Chapter 1
Song Prompt: Unconditionally by Katy Perry
After their trip to the Spirit World, Korra and Asami admitted their feelings for each other, and Asami invited Korra to move in with her. This one-shot will address the remaining PTSD that Korra has after all of her fights and near-death experiences.
I do not own any part of the ATLA and ALOK universe
…..
Korra looks around her, trying to get a grip on her surroundings. She remembers falling asleep in the guest bedroom next to Asami's room. Even though they are a couple and living together, neither of them were ready to share a room yet. But Korra is no longer in her room. She is standing in one of the back rooms of the probending arena. She can't move a muscle, and it hurts. She's being bloodbended. Mako is lying on the floor in front of her, She feels a hand on the back her neck. Amon. "NO!" she cries desperately, but it's too late. Amon takes away her bending. She closes her eyes in a silent scream, then falls to the floor. Amon stands over her, looking down at her triumphantly. "I told you I would destroy you." His deep voice rings in her ears as she closes her eyes tightly.
When she opens her eyes again, Korra is in the South Pole, just outside the Spirit Portal. Vaatu has fused with Unalaq, and they have pulled Raava's spirit out of her body. Korra again finds herself collapsed on the ground, watching helplessly as Raava is trapped in a ball of water. Bolin and Mako try to stop him, but they are knocked away. Raava lands next to her, and Korra reaches out weakly, but the light spirit is taken again and slammed into a rock, where Unalaq strikes her with dark energy from Vaatu. With each strike, Korra feels and sees her past lives being destroyed, starting with Avatar Aang. The pain is unbearable, as she collapses into the ground once again. Korra reaches out again as her uncle prepares for one final blow, shattering the light spirit along with Avatar Wan, the very first. Korra is too weak, and her eyes close again.
Now when they open, Korra is chained up in a cave, limbs stretched so she cannot move. The Red Lotus stand on the ground below. Korra glares wildly at Zaheer. "When I get out of here, none of you will survive!" She yells at them. Zaheer looks at her. "You won't get out," he says, "unless the metal clan taught you a way to bend platinum." Korra sees a liquid metal floating above him. " Once we administer this poison," he states, his voice calm as ever, " your body will naturally react, forcing you into the Avatar State in an effort to keep you alive. Sadly for you, you'll be entering it for the last time." Korra's eyes go wide as she cries, "No! The Avatar cycle-" "Yes." Zaheer cuts her off. "When we dispatch you in the Avatar State, the cycle will end. So we lucky few, this band of brothers and sisters in anarchy," he gestures to the others in the cave. "Are witnessing the beginning of an era of true freedom. Together, we will forge a world without kings and queens, without borders or nations, where man's only allegiance is to himself and those he loves. We will return to the true balance of natural order. And though you will never again be reborn, your name will echo through our history, 'Korra, the last Avatar.'" Zaheer looks down. "Administer the poison." He says and walks away. A metal bender maneuvers the liquid metal to her body, where it latches to her exposed skin on her arms and legs, seeping in. Korra cries out in pain, the poison doing its work on her body, triggering the Avatar State. She barely hears Zaheer telling his men to get ready to kill her. She starts hallucinating her old enemies, and despite her best efforts to fight it, the Avatar State takes over.
Korra can't see all that happens next, but she sees glimpses of her fight with Zaheer on the mountain, the poison slowly killing her. Zaheer's voice rings in her ears. "You can't fight me and the poison." The fight is now one-sided, as Zaheer knocks her all over the mountainside, and finally she lands on a ledge. "The poison has done its work," Zaheer says, flying above her. "The Avatar Cycle will end momentarily." He uses airbending to suck the air from her lungs, the same move that he used to kill the Earth Queen. Korra cannot see what happens next, but when she can see, her dad is holding her, telling her to hang on. And then, darkness.
Korra wakes up screaming, thrashing around on the floor of her room. She must have tossed and turned her way out of bed. Over her screams she can hear another voice, Asami's, telling her she's okay. She feels arms, slender but strong, holding her in a tight and comforting embrace, and soon she begins to relax. Now she sits on the floor, shaking with the force of her sobs, wrapped in Asami's arms. Korra clings to her girlfriend, crying into her chest, tears soaking her shirt. In the back of her mind, Korra feels bad that Asami has to see her like this, but she can't find the energy to care right now. Asami holds her close and rocks their bodies in an attempt to help her calm down, whispering soothing words and even humming a small tune. After what feels like hours but is really only one, Korra's tears slow to a stop, and her shaking ends, but Asami's hold remains, grounding Korra to reality.
Finally, Korra risks a glance up, and her eyes meet light green eyes filled with worry and what could only be described as unconditional love. Asami presses a gentle kiss to Korra's forehead and whispers, "You're okay now Korra. It was just a nightmare. You're safe." A slender, yet calloused hand rubs her back as Korra slowly nods her head, taking a deep, shuddering breath.
"I'm sorry…" Korra whispers, voice hoarse from screaming. "You shouldn't have to see me like this…"
Glancing up again, she see an eyebrow shoot up on Asami's perfect face, as the woman brushes Korra's hair out of her eyes. "Korra, I knew when I said yes to dating you that there would be days and nights like this. I will be here for you, always. And I will help you as much as I am able to. Even if all I can do is hold you through the tears." Her grip tightens ever so slightly, but rather than cause pain or fear, Korra feels safer. Asami presses their foreheads together and whispers, "It's okay to be afraid. But here, with me, there is nothing to fear. Here, you can let go and be free. You can open your heart to me, and I will accept you as you are. I will love you as you are. Even with all the dirty laundry you leave on the floor." Asami teases, casting a glance to the clothes thrown haphazardly around the bedroom floor. Korra lets out a soft laugh, a sheepish blush creeping over her cheeks. She rubs the back of her neck.
"You really mean that?" Korra asks, looking up at Asami. Asami gives her a warm smile, gently pulling her up to the bed. Korra gives her a look that clearly says "will you sleep with me?" and climbs under the covers with Korra, holding her again.
"Yes Korra." she whispers, "I will love you unconditionally."