Road to Recovery

Summary: "After his betrayal, I knew he was a terrible father. It wasn't until I watched you heal from the poisoning that I realized I was lying to myself this entire time." Korrasami. Set after series finale.

Prologue

Avatar Korra sighed happily as she stretched out on the beach of Kiyoshi Island. She dug her toes into the sand before tugging the straps of her bikini top down off of her shoulders. The salty spray from the high waves lightly spritzed her face under the hot sun.

"Aren't you afraid that you'll burn?" Asami Sato asked. She was seated next to Korra in a black beach chair underneath a giant red umbrella. Her long raven hair was pulled back into a high ponytail. A pair of red sunglasses nestled on the top of her head, being used as a headband.

"I'm too dark to burn." Korra laced her hands together before placing them onto her stomach. "Sorry, I should have reminded you that it would take some getting used to the sun again in the Physical World after being in the Spirit World," she added.

"It would have helped," Asami sighed. She shooed a spirit bird away from her before readjusting her brick red strapless once piece. "But I've always burnt easily. Why do you think I wear layers?" she questioned.

Korra frowned and rolled onto her stomach. She rested her head on her arms and kicked her legs. "But that one time when we were at your mansion, and you showed me the new cars-" she started.

"I wasn't in the pool that long," Asami answered.

"That would explain why you're so pale," Korra agreed. "You need more color."

Before Asami could question what the Avatar meant, Korra quickly slammed her foot into the ground. A cloud of sand popped into the air and dumped onto Asami's lap. Asami squealed in surprise and dropped her book. She quickly hopped off of her chair and started to swat at her legs.

"Korra!"

Korra laughed heartily as she watched Asami brushed at her arms and legs. "I'm sorry; I wasn't expecting to use that much sand." She apologized. Korra giggled as a few spirit sand dwellers appeared and started nipping at Asami's sand covered toes.

"I didn't know you could sand bend." Asami smiled down at the spirits as she continued to brush herself off. "I think some of it went down my suit." She pouted while pulling the mesh away from her body.

"Some water can fix that," Korra answered.

"You could just sandbend it off," Asami pointed out. She reached up and shook the ribbon that held her hair in a ponytail. Sand sprinkled out of her hair and landed on her beach chair. It wasn't until she noticed Korra out of her peripheral vision, that she had gotten up from laying on the ground and walked over to the incoming tide. "Korra, don't."

Korra ignored her friend before turning towards the ocean. She pointed did a quick martial arts movement and waterbent a stream of water over at Asami, who quickly covered her face with her hands. Korra laughed again when Asami let out and even louder shriek as the cold water blasted her.

Asami tripped over her beach chair and landed in the sand on her back. The water cause even more sand to stick to her body. She reached up and tugged her sunglasses off of the top of her head before tossing them into her bag. She spat out a stream of water before wiping off her face. She tried to glare at the Avatar but found her laugh to be very contagious. Soon she was laughing herself.

"I must look terrible," Asami said as she wiped water out of her eyes. Korra walked over and held out her hand. Asami looked at her friend's open hand before looking her in the eyes.

"I swear, I'm not going to do anything," Korra reassured her. Korra stared back without a hint of mischief. Finally, Asami half-smiled before grabbing a hold of her hand and being pulled to her feet. She turned towards her beach chair to grab her towel.

"Hey, what's that on your back?" Korra asked. Asami flinched when she felt one of Korra's fingers outline something on her back.

Asami gasped and quickly straightened back up before turning around. She pulled her red one piece up, and then checked over her shoulder to make sure the mark was hidden underneath her bathing suit. She reached up and unclipped her hair before widening her eyes, to give off an innocent look. "Nothing." She shrugged.

"Are you sure?" Korra took a step forward. Her blue eyes held confusion and worry. "I thought I saw something. I can check for you," she suggested.

"No!" she shouted. Korra blinked in surprise. Asami grabbed her bag before holding it tightly in her arms. "I mean, its fine. I'm just going to go to the changing area and freshen up a bit."

Asami quickly threw her bag over her shoulder before speed walking away. She bit her lip and crossed her arms over her chest. With her head held low, her bangs quickly framed her face. She felt a familiar pinch behind her eyes and started to breathe deeply.

Before she felt Korra's hand on her shoulder, Asami heard a gust of wind from behind her. Korra kept her hand on Asami's shoulder but didn't step any closer. Asami reached up and placed her hand on top of the Avatars. "I'm sorry, I was just joking around," Korra apologized.

"Its fine, Korra, really," Asami muttered. She brushed her bangs out of her hair before turning and flashing her friend with a bright smile. "I'm just overreacting. Sometimes, I take things too seriously." Asami quickly turned away. "I'll be right back."

Once she stepped into the wash area, Asami dropped her bag by the door. She quickly walked around to make sure no one else was in the area with her. After taking a deep breath, Asami turned around so that her back was facing the mirror. She pulled down the back of her one piece bathing suit bit by bit.

After several minutes, Asami's back was visible in the mirror along with a giant scar. The scar was light pink and extended from her lower back up towards the middle of her spine in a diagonal. Asami reached around and lightly fingered the mark.

"Daddy, I said I was sorry."

"I shouldn't have to tell you every day!"

"I'll go fix it."

"No, you'll only make things worse. You need to be punished, immediately."

"Daddy, no! Please don't. I'm really sorry!"

"Don't run away from me, Asami!"

"Asami?"

Asami jumped. She let go of the back of her bathing suit, which popped back into place with a snap. "Yes?" Asami blinked. She tilted her head back so that her long hair would cover the scar on her back. She leaned back on the sink so that her elbows were resting on the edge. "What did you say?"

"Are you sure that you're okay?" Korra questioned from the doorway. Her dark brown hair was pulled down from its usual high ponytail. Asami resisted the urge to reach out and brush a few strands of it behind the Avatar's ear.

"I'm fine," Asami said quietly. "I was just making sure I got all of the sand off my back." She turned back towards the sinks before turning on the faucet. She shivered as the cool water splashed over her hands. Asami brushed the hair out of her face and smiled softly. "I'm just going to finish up here, and then we should head back to Air Temple Island. I'm sure everyone is excited for our return," she added. She looked up into the mirror and locked eyes with Korra before smiling even more.

"Okay." Korra nodded. She walked over and gave Asami a light squeeze to her shoulder before heading out the door. "I'm going to go and gather up all of our things from the beach."

"I'll be right there," Asami called over her shoulder. Korra grunted a response. Asami turned around so that her back was facing the mirror again. While looking over her shoulder once more, she tugged the back of her one piece down enough so that the top of her scar was visible.

"Damnit," she muttered.