Not With Haste

The Beginning

It had been a fun two weeks. They had left their responsibilities and titles behind. There was no Future Industries or Avatar duties, there was just Asami and Korra. That break from the reality which they struggled in had given them the time they needed to finally sort out what exactly they meant to each other. Years of stolen glances and brief contact was finally becoming something more. They had the love. They just needed to build its foundations for the future, and they had.

When they left the spirit world and returned to Republic city they had set the boundaries of their relationship and what their expectations for the future was. Both agreed that they saw this relationship as it for them. They wanted this to be forever and they were going to try their damnedest to make sure it lasted. That meant that they were going to keep this new relationship between the two of them until they were sure they could withstand the constant pressure of the press.

In truth, Korra couldn't believe how easy it had been to transition from friends to girlfriends. It seemed almost natural, like their entire friendship had been building to this moment. She couldn't believe it. As she waited for her girlfriend to finally show up, she reflected on how far they had come. It was astounding and improbably, but made sense in the end.

"Hey, warrior," the voice of an angel said, breaking into her thought of the past.

Korra smiled at Asami, "Hey."

"You haven't been waiting long, have you? I got stuck at the new capital site. Raiko had some new ideas for his office," Asami explained.

Korra laughed, getting up from her seat, "I've kept you waiting much longer. Let's go eat."

Together they left the small waiting area of the restaurant and headed back towards the hostess. They were meeting at discreet low key restaurants lately because the press never expected to find them in such low class areas, but this diner was perfect for them. The food was pretty good and managed to have a few traditional South Pole dishes which kept Korra happy, while also offering dishes that Asami could actually stomach.

"So," Korra began, "What plans did Raiko have?"

Asami pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration, "He basically wants to make the capitol a Raiko palace. I swear he thinks being president means he's going to be in power forever."

Korra reached across the tabled and grabbed Asami's free hand, "I always thought he was a jerk. Especially after the convergence. Politicians, they cause more trouble than they're worth."

They just sat there for hours. They talked about everything they encountered during their day. When they finally left they strolled through the spirit wilds in the center of town, taking advantage that most of the press was too scared to ever go there to be more affectionate than usual. When they parted they both left happier than they had been before the date, but silently wishing that they didn't have to part for the night.

They continued on with the hidden relationship for months. They didn't even tell their friends, fearing that they may find backlash over the fact that their relationship couldn't bear any heirs for either the Future Industries dynasty or for the South Pole and for their previous dating history.

"Tell him that you need to get away from all the airbenders," Asami argued.

Lately they had been trying to spend more time together, but with the growing demands for Future Industries and for the Avatar they had actually been spending less time together.

Korra sighed, "You know Tenzin has strict curfews. As long as I live on the island I have to follow his rules, even if I am an adult."

Asami tilted her head to the side, a blush rising up her cheeks as she proposed a new idea.

"How about you stop living there?" she asked.

Korra stopped for a second. Her heart felt like it was being squeeze and her body felt on fire as she realized what Asami might be suggesting.

"Are… are you asking me what I think you are asking?" she asked so quietly that it was uncharacteristic of the brash personality she usually displayed.

Asami nodded, her cheeks still tinged red. "Yes, I don't want to have to separate every night. These moments aren't enough anymore. I want you with me every day. Being apart kills me because I am constantly wondering when we might be together again."

Korra felt breathless, "I feel the same."

"Then move in with me. I need you. You've become such a big part of my life and well… I love you," she admitted.

After a moment Asami's lips were captured in a passionate kiss. Her arms snaked around Korra's back as the kiss deepened. She pulled Korra closer, their bodies colliding.

When the kiss broke Korra whispered, "I love you too. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else."

That is how they started their next step. They still didn't tell anyone the true nature of their relationship. After explaining to Tenzin that she really needed her own space away from a bunch of teen and pre-teen airbenders, Korra moved her things into Asami's downtown apartment.

Asami and Korra managed to live with each other with relative ease. They both fell into a pattern. Asami would leave early for her meetings, waking Korra as she left. Korra would then head into the negotiations between the New Earth Republic and Republic City while Asami worked at Future Industries. Korra would then meet Asami at her office for lunch and they would talk about what had happened since the morning. Those afternoon talks had saved a lot of people from the fury of the Avatar because Asami could usually cool her temper. Then they would finish their days. Korra often returned to their apartment late to find Asami asleep over some blueprint.

Despite the predictability of her life, Korra was actually more at peace than ever. She wasn't bored or tired with her routine as she had been when she lived in the White Lotus compound. She actually enjoyed this ritualistic life, so much so that she started planning on how to keep it. Her conclusion was that she needed to marry that girl. No one could stop her.

She started looking into the marriage laws of all the nations. Republic City had no ban on same-sex marriage, but they also didn't have any laws that allowed it. The New Earth Kingdom currently was running on the laws of the old Earth Kingdom which basically meant marriage was restricted to one man and one woman who were from the same class. The Fire Nation made allowances for same-sex marriages in certain territories and in the capital city. The Southern Water tribe allowed any marriages between two consenting, not related adults. The Northern tribe only allowed traditional marriages. All of the nations recognized marriages from any of the other nations. It had been the one rules that they had all managed to agree on when Republic City was formed.

With this information she started planning. Her metal bending wasn't nearly as good as Su's or even Lin's, but she could design something that would be unique and that Asami would love. So after two weeks of playing with the design during her hours alone she finally had a design. She then took that design to a jewelry who made a mold from her iron design and then set the ring in platinum adding a series of sapphires and rubies to the band.

She carried that ring around with her for months, waiting for a perfect time to finally propose. Every moment just seemed wrong until one night. She was sitting in an armchair in the corner of Asami's office. Asami was buried deep in a series of blue prints, crossing out math and creating some new equations after tweaking the design. A smudge of ink was on the corner of her nose from her leaky fountain pen. Her hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail, but in that moment she looked perfect to Korra. She realized in that the only perfect moment would be the one she created. She had to stop waiting.

"Sami," she said, trying to get the inventor's attention.

Asami paused from her furious calculation, "Yes?"

"Marry me," she said.

Asami turned away from her desk and stared into the Avatar's eyes. She couldn't quite believe what she was hearing.

"Are you serious?" she asked.

Korra responded by taking the ring out of her pocket and said once again, "Marry me."

Asami was too stunned to respond. She never had expected Korra to propose, so far in their relationship she had been the one to push all of their major steps. She had just assumed she would be the one to propose.

Korra, worried since she was not getting a response, started to explain, "Look, I know I am usually rash and don't think things through, but this isn't the case. I'm not one for cheesy speeches or declarations but I have been wanting to marry you for a while. I can't imagine not having you in my life and I want to make sure I never have to. So please, will you marry me?"

Asami, finally breaking out of her stupor, said, "Of course."

Hours later the two laid in their bed, snuggled close. They basked in their happiness, but still wondering how to proceed. It was Asami who finally broached the subject, breaking the comfortable silence.

"You know we sorta have to tell people about us now," she said.

Korra sighed, "I know. I… I just don't really know how. I mean we crossed the point where we should have told people ages ago."

Asami moved her hand from Korra should and instead moved it to capture the Avatar's free hand. Her ring sparkling in the moonlight rushing in through the balcony windows. Korra absent mindedly started stroking the ring adorned hand.

"I also need to get something to claim you so everyone knows once and for all the Avatar is no longer available," Asami said with a laugh.

Korra smiled, "You're a genius. I am sure you will think of something."

Asami snuggled closer into her lover's arms, taking comfort in the warmth. They were going to have the leave the comfort of their secrets and finally reveal the truth. She didn't know exactly how to deal with that.

They had eventually agreed that the first people that should know were Korra's parents. Since a telegram and radioing didn't really seem like the best way to tell someone's parents that they were in homosexual relationship with their best friend and also getting married to that said best friend, they were taking an airship to the South Pole. During the time on the airship Asami got started on her engagement present. She had decided to stay within the water tribe traditions she knew and because Korra had both southern and northern heritage she decided to go with a betrothal necklace. By the time the airship touched down she had finished. The necklace, which was designed with a gear as a water wheel, was around Korra's neck before their feet touched solid ground again.

As soon as they stepped off of the airship Korra was swarmed by her parents. Tonraq and Senna both wrapped their arms tightly around their little girl.

"You don't visit enough!" Senna cried.

Korra's face was turning blue, "I promise I will visit more often, but only if you let me breathe."

Her parents let her go reluctantly, but as she was released Senna caught the sparkling rock around her neck. Her face contorted into one of joy.

"Korra, why didn't you tell us you were seeing someone? It's not that Mako boy is it?" she asked.

Korra's cheeks flushed, "No, it's not Mako. This is actually why we came here."

Korra walked back to Asami and pulled her close to her. She hoped her mother would get what she was trying to explain. After a few seconds she could see that Senna wasn't getting the message. She then grabbed Asami's left hand and held it up,

"Mom, dad, Asami and I are going to get married," she said, hammering the final nail in the coffin of their secret relationship.

"Oh… why didn't you just tell us you were dating Asami?" asked Tonraq.

Asami took over, "We just wanted to create a relationship and see if it could last before we rocked the boat."

Korra added, "I was just so busy with the Earth Kingdom elections and restructure of government that I could never find a time to tell you in person and this is one of those things that is best to tell in person."

Senna nodded, "We understand, honey. We just wish we had been able to be a part of this more."

"We want you guys to be a large part of our wedding. I mean, we want to do this right, in a traditional Water tribe way," Asami said.

Tonraq smiled at this, "Good. Then I guess we can start with these tradition engagement rituals. When can we go on the traditional tiger seal hunt?"

When Asami returned from the hunt with Tonraq she was soaked head to toe. Luckily the chief's palace was well heated and not an igloo like Korra's parents house had been before Tonraq had become chief. She stripped her clothing off one she had gotten to the bedroom. Korra was already asleep in bed, her dark hair wild across the pillow.

"The things I do for you," she said kissing Korra on the lips softly before pulling the covers back and joining her in bed.

Korra snuggled closer to Asami, waking up slightly.

"Hey beautiful, how did it go?" she sleepily mumbled into Asami's shoulder.

Asami chuckled, "Well, I fell out of the boat when we were harpooning."

"That's nice," Korra mumbled before immediately falling asleep again, her soft snoring pulling Asami into the dream world.

"You want us to what!" Korra exclaimed in disbelief.

"Everyone is already going to be here for the spirits festival. All your friends, Tenzin and the airbenders, Varrick and his family and even your cousins will be here," Senna argued.

Korra was in disbelief. She had been in the Southern Water tribe for a week and now her parents were expecting her to get married in three days.

"This is our wedding. It's not Senna's wedding, it's not Tonraq's wedding, it's not any of the people coming for the festival's wedding. This is Korra and Asami's wedding. That means we will get married when we want," she said bringing her fist down.

Senna's face shifted to perhaps the saddest puppy dog face Korra had ever seen. It looked as if the earth was going to open up and eat her whole. It made her heart hurt.

"After missing most of my daughter's childhood and then not being told when she met the love of her life," her voice cracking.

"Exactly, you missed most of my childhood. Why should I do this for you?" Korra asked.

Senna thought for a moment, "Because we will save a lot of money on invitations, you won't have to reveal your relationship to each and every one of your friends individually and the press will not be there to disturb you on your big day?"

Korra's face dropped, "You may have a point there."