They arrive.
The warm light of the spirit portal in Republic City is replaced by brisk air and a tapestry of stars that stretch through time, shining through layers of darkness. Other skies, deeper skies, swirl with unreachable galaxies. Blue mountains shimmer and glow. A meadow stretches out further than the eye can see, flowers bright and pulsing with spirit energy. It seems unbelievable that such a hideous weapon could have opened a world of such beauty.
Asami turns in slow circles, the flowers brushing against her legs, tickling. Knotted trees dot the landscape, twined branches stretched out in a dance before lifting upward, sprouting bright leaves. Korra smiles and looks nervously to Asami. "So… not too shabby for our first official outing. What do you think?"
"Are you kidding? This is incredible." Asami's voice sends ripples through the air. Flowers sway in response, glowing more vibrantly. The stars are fat, bright and stunning. "I can't believe I'm here. I can't believe I'm here, with you."
Korra takes her hands. "You, me and the spirits. Tenzin said Raiko's not letting anyone near this thing for a few months. It really is just you and me." She cocks a lopsided smile that belies how her fingers tremble. "Think you can handle that?"
"I think I can try." She wraps an arm around Korra's waist the moment the Avatar tentatively presses her palm to her cheek, skirting and careful. Their faces graze one another's, breath growing short, despite their smiles. They kiss. No matter the difficulties, the tragedies, the spirit world, the odds, it feels like an inevitable conclusion.
They explore for hours, walking hand in hand. Korra is a natural tour guide. Asami realizes she knew far less of the spirit world than she thought. "You know," Korra tells her, "I can't say I've been to the spirit world tons of times but I've been here enough. It's a whole different experience with you."
"I take it that's a good thing?"
"It's kind of a great thing. And no one's trying to kill us, so that's a bonus." They exchange a lingering kiss before settling down beside one of the trees next to a riverbank. Korra begins rummaging through her backpack, setting aside some changes of clothes before pulling out a blanket. "It can get cold here at night. Did you bring one? I ah—I only brought this. I wasn't thinking. I was thinking," she continues in her quick fire way, "that maybe we could have a picnic? Just the two of us."
Asami doesn't point out that it's only the two of them. She likes being reminded. "That sounds like a great idea."
"We've been walking for hours. Are you hungry?"
Asami nods and they take opposite ends of the blanket, spreading it out over the meadowy field. Korra doesn't waste any time getting out a plate and several small containers of fruits and bread, rice and desserts. She must have raided Varrick and Zhu Li's wedding banquet. "We were going to eat this anyway. I guess we could have planned this out longer but why wait?"
"I'm not complaining."
"Good." She smiles, looks around her and picks up a red flower at random from the field, handing it to Asami. Asami takes it, smiling in amusement as a small fairy stretches its wings out, goes over to Korra to swat lightly at her forehead before flying away. "I hate when that happens. There must be a real flower around here somewhere." She shakes her head. "Before we leave, I promise."
"You sound nervous."
"Of course I'm nervous. Aren't you nervous?"
Asami bows her head in assent. "I guess a little."
"I've got butterflies in my stomach. And here we are."
"That's a problem?"
"How am I supposed to impress you without some catastrophe going down?"
"I'm sure you'll think of something," she picks up a strawberry from one of the small bowls and teases it along Korra's lower lip. "And what makes you think I'm not already impressed?" A flush crawls up Korra's cheeks. The calm is a lens all its own. With it, Asami can take the time to really look at the Avatar. Her eyes are the color of a clear lagoon, lit up by the sun, her shapely lips a pale pink. Her chiseled arms look as if they were carved in the image of some goddess of hunt. She is a work of art. Korra bites into the strawberry and Asami finishes the rest, her mind idling, curious as to what the rest of Korra's form looks like beneath the clothing.
It's as far as her imagination has ever gotten her and the heat on her face is scalding. The world around her warms, the flowers pulsing with her heartbeat, becoming a drumming song. Asami looks around her. "What's going on?" she sees a vision of Korra, at the corner of her eye, in a state of undress. Korra notices too and goes crimson.
The Avatar reaches over and takes her hands, kneeling before her. "It's okay. Relax. The spirit world reacts to our thoughts and emotions." Asami goes white, humiliated. The one time her imagination goes overboard and the spirit world rats her out. Perfect. "Take a deep breath. Close your eyes." Asami does. "Focus on the shape of my hands, the sound of my voice." Asami hears short breath, hot against her ears, almost panting. "Um…" Asami feels Korra's hands tugging slightly against hers but doesn't open her eyes. "Okay. Change of plans. Think of Varrick and Pabu, Naga, Desna and Eska. Bolin. Tenzin. Tenzin and Lin are here, disapproving."
That works like an icy shower. The sweltering heat dies away near instantaneously. Her heartbeat does not ring out through the spirit world. Korra's face is bright red. Asami is sure hers is too. Her throat is dry. "Did… you see something weird? Did I bring something weird here?"
"Nope. Nothing at all." Korra faces away from her, chugging down the entirety of the water bottle.
Sometimes it's dark. Sometimes it's light.
The first night, they find a particularly plush field of flowers and spread the blanket down. They are surrounded by blue mountains and lights of every color dancing along the night sky in waves.
Asami settles her head on Korra's shoulder, an arm draped along her stomach. Eventually their breathing settles into one rhythm. Asami is comforted by Korra's heartbeat, strong and steady. "This is incredible," she says for the second time since arriving.
Korra shifts to look at her. "Yeah, I think so too." She finds Asami's hand and laces their fingers, her thumb grazing along her soft flesh. "It was such a good idea to come here. It's nice not having other distractions."
Asami closes her eyes and smiles. "That is nice. But I meant this. That someone like me can travel to the spirit world… that we can live in harmony with spirits back in our world… Korra, you did all of that. You're more than the Avatar. You're something else. You've changed the world in so many ways… and who knows what other things you'll do." She squeezes her hand. "Life's always an adventure with you."
"Someone once taught me to not be afraid to mix it up." Asami chuckles, shifting easily when Korra rolls her onto her back. Korra stares at her before laughing nervously. "I'm pretty sure I landed the most gorgeous girl in Republic City."
"You could keep mixing it up and go for a more average looking one."
"But not the humblest girl in Republic City," Korra arches an eyebrow.
"Who needs humble?" Her fingers skim along the flowers, enjoying the sensation despite how desperately she wants to press them to Korra's frame. "I landed the Avatar. Who happens to be a spectacular looking woman herself. I think I'm entitled a little bragging." Strange how Korra can be unbearably cocky at times and almost cripplingly bashful at others.
"Do you think the others know what we're doing here?"
"If they're old enough and have a little imagination." She brushes chestnut hair back behind Korra's ear. Korra turns her face enough to brush a kiss to Asami's wrist. The very touch seems to set her blood on fire.
"You know…" Korra nearly stammers the words, "we don't always have to make do with imagination." Moments pass. This time Korra's laugh is genuine and light. Asami's face goes beet red. She turns on her side. "You do get flustered! Yes! I'm not the only one! I was really hoping you weren't gorgeous and so damn cool all the time."
"You're awful."
"You don't think that." Korra spoons around her, face nestled in her neck, making it impossible for Asami to cool down. Minutes go by with their hands laced, listening to one another's breathing, watching the spirits shoot like fireworks through the night sky. "You know," Korra says, "I think I liked you before I went away. Before Zaheer even hurt me." Asami doesn't want to talk about him, think about him. Korra must feel her tension. She presses a kiss to her shoulder. "You took care of me after everything happened. It only confirmed that it wasn't stupid to feel that way about you. I just wish you hadn't seen me that way." Her arms wrap more tightly against Asami's waist, pulling her closer. "This wouldn't have been possible before."
"Maybe not exactly like this." Asami shifts her face as best she can to look at her. "I admire your strength, Korra, but it's not why I'm with you. There's something more, deep inside. It's a different kind of strength. You're more than just your muscles."
"You don't like them?"
"I didn't say that."
Korra presses more tightly to her, her hands idling on her waist and hips. Korra held her like this after her father died. It was different then. Asami couldn't experience it. She was numb. Now, she's pure sensation. Now she's a shooting star. Korra's body is lean muscle and Asami is drunk at the contact. They lie for hours, pointing out lights in the sky, stars, inventing constellations, watching spirit whales swim lazily through the skies, wolves chase one another through the land. It's hard to believe that anything could feel so perfect after everything they've suffered.
Asami wakes up alone. Flowers rustle as she gets to a sitting and then to her feet. Golden light cascades over the spirit world. It isn't long before the heat she was missing settles back into her skin. She searches the landscape for Korra and finds her almost immediately. Korra's bending; water, fire, air, earth moving around her like ribbons of color.
Asami retrieves her sketch pad and sits on golden blades of grass. She's fascinated by the constantly evolving landscape and wonders whether it's her good mood or Korra's that changes it. The sky is a deep, bright blue. The sunlight is a curiosity. Asami is unsure where it comes from, only that it lights Korra in the best possible way, as if light had been created to caress her.
Asami tries, best as she can, to capture the spirit of Korra's bending but either she's distracted or Korra's distracting—the sketchpad and pencil fly out of her hands, landing ten feet ahead. Asami stands, chases after it, only to have it jump even further away. Soon, she's close enough to Korra to see an impish smile on her lips.
Asami places her hands on her hips but loses her balance as a gust of wind sends her stumbling forward, and then again. Korra continues her movements, movements that Asami now recognizes as beckoning, pulling until she stands before her. Korra grins, a sheen of sweat on her skin. "Morning."
"Morning." No matter how Asami tries, she can't manage to sound put out. "So, you got me here." What does she intend to do about it?
Korra wipes at her forehead with the back of her arm. "Yeah! I was just getting warmed up and thought maybe you were looking for a workout?"
Asami arches an eyebrow. "What kind of workout?" She can't bend. Not elements. "I just woke up."
"Yeah, that's the best time."
Asami is no longer sure they're talking about a workout and Korra isn't clarifying matters for her. She takes Korra's arm instead and pulls them both to the ground, landing in another plush thicket of flowers. Korra's energy is bubbly. Asami wonders if she's like this every morning or if it's only the excitement of being in the spirit world together. "Did you sleep last night?"
"Not really."
"Oh. I don't snore, do I?"
"Yeah, it's awful," Korra grins and Asami isn't sure whether she's joking or not. "So I'm guessing that's a 'no' to the workout?" Korra flops onto her back, arms over her head. Asami settles on her side, lifting herself on her elbow to watch her. "That's fine. I'm still kind of beat so we can make it a lazy day. Oh, I forgot to tell you, I was skysurfing earlier and I spotted a waterfall in the distance. I don't think it's too far from here. The water was so beautiful and clear, and it was surrounded by this bank with the greenest grass I've ever seen and these flowers that are like—I don't think they're fairies this time but they're really nice! Anyway, I was thinking—"
Asami kisses her. Korra's lips are faintly salty with sweat. Despite her previous enthusiasm about the river, Korra crooks an arm around Asami's neck, their brief kiss, deep and fiery. They pull away, Asami's fingers tracing along Korra's abdomen, wondering what it might be like to press to her bare skin. "Show me the river. We can go for a swim."
Korra's smile will be her undoing.
They run through the meadow.
They've just left the waterfall. The water was as clear as anything, shining straight to the bottom, filled with colorful, smooth stones. Emerald green grass lined the banks and the water was cool and inviting. Asami whips her arms and legs. The flowers beat against her damp skin. Korra gave her a head start but she's gaining fast.
Birds with colorful wild plumage soar above them. Spirits sparkle like diamonds. The wind pulls at Asami's hair, makes her skin feel refreshed and delicious despite the heat. The clouds are wisps of radiant cotton candy, the skies hues of purples and pinks. Korra's arm snakes around her waist, catching her.
They laugh, Asami getting another few inches further before Korra grasps her again, securely this time. They swam for who knows how long, playing a kind of spy game with the rocks, retrieving what was asked of them, taking the opportunity when presenting the jewels to touch casually here, to stroke casually there. A peck on the cheek here, a peck on the neck there and Asami, giddy, ran out of the water, Korra on her heels.
"You're faster than you look," Korra takes a lungful of air, "guess I'm faster."Korra's skin glistens with water and she practically glows. Is it the physical activity, where Korra seems to thrive most, that strips her of her usual bashfulness? The Avatar's hands settle on Asami's hips, the heat of her fingertips penetrating Asami's thin tanktop. Asami thinks she left her jacket on the bluff but isn't sure.
"I know I can't outrun you." Asami drapes her arms casually over Korra's shoulders and feels a small trill when Korra steps closer, "maybe I was counting on it."
Korra smiles, lifting just enough to press their lips together. Their kisses have gradually grown more confident and knowing the longer they spend together, the more they get to know one another. A kindling, a spark, a wildfire. Their breathing is soft and hurried. They are alone, they are together, they are in love.
When Korra slips her fingers beneath Asami's shirt, she lifts her arms instinctively, letting Korra pull it away. A moment of their lips separated is too long and soon their mouths are joined again, Korra's hands exploring over her sides and back, gliding feather light along her breasts. Asami gasps, dizzy with the contact and she looks at Korra whose face is flush and stunning, serious and intent.
Asami stills as Korra brings her lips to her breasts, her tongue grazing along them until Asami goes weak kneed, Korra's ministrations experimental and curious. Is this all right? Yes, yes, it's more than all right.
Asami peels the arm bands from Korra, hands tracing possessively over her arms, kissing her forearm, kissing her bicep, easing over her triceps, her many scars, watching every piece of her, rippling and strong, soft and feminine in one. Asami touches her breasts carefully, as if tracing a sculpture, a work of art, before meeting her eyes. You're so beautiful. Korra melts her. Korra, who reacts as if no one has ever told her such a thing.
They take their time, kissing, touching, maneuvering until they're naked, lying in a field of flowers, like something she might have imagined as a younger woman, something she might have thought of as romantic, would later think of as childish and now fills her heart to full. A soft rain begins, warm and soothing. They kiss languidly, bodies gliding against one another's, exploring, kissing away beads of rain, drinking what collects on their collarbones, belly buttons, tasting and teasing. Do you like this? How about this? Yes. Yes. Yes.
Korra naked and beautiful as a goddess, above her, smiling as if she were the only thing in the universe. Asami pushes another stray strand of hair from her eyes, easing it behind her ear as Korra's fingers trace paths along her inner thigh, making her wild before settling at her center, hot and eager for her touch. Korra's cheeks are dark, lips parted in anticipation, still unsure. Asami brings a hand to the back of the Avatar's neck, drawing her down, covering Korra's hand and guiding her fingers inside.
They both take a breath. Asami closes her eyes only an instant, before locking them with Korra's and moving against her touch. Korra kisses her fiercely, lets Asami pull her down beside her, legs twining, finding her own way inside Korra, satin, drawing from her a surprised cry. Asami momentarily panics. She's done something wrong. She's gone too fast.
No, no, no. It's good. Don't stop.
They don't stop.
Time trickles and races, the beauty around them shifting like the seasons. After their first encounter, they are feverish and desperate to keep in physical contact with one another, their bodies glisten with sweat but their lovemaking is not diminished. Asami doesn't know how long passes before she takes Korra's wrists, pinning them above her head, needing a moment from Korra's talented hands to say something.
Almost immediately she knows she's done something wrong. The smile falls from Korra's face. She's somewhere else, panicked and afraid. Asami quickly releases her and sits up. "Are you okay?"
Korra smiles weakly and rises to a sitting. "Yeah. Sorry. You… took me a little off guard, that's all." It seemed such a simple thing. Asami makes a mental note and apologizes for having done it. Korra kisses Asami to assuage her worry. "I'll get over it. I just… I just need a little time. It's always the stupid little things." She's crestfallen. "Sorry. I feel like I've just ruined a really awesome time."
Asami laughs in spite of herself. "You'll have to try a lot harder than that if you want to ruin what we've been doing…" for however long it is they've been doing it. She lets herself stretch out on her back, afraid to pull Korra to her. Korra settles down beside Asami, watching her. "Well… I guess what I wanted to say is that I'm not the Avatar. I can't keep up with you."
"You've done a great job so far." Another kiss and then she looks at her soberly. "Hey."
"Hey." A smile.
"I think I kind of love you."
Asami's heart pounds. Some part of her knows that Korra loves her. Or maybe she only hoped it was true. It's different hearing it out loud, even if it could be stated more strongly. "I know I kind of love you." Korra's smile is brighter than the sun. "Your love is like… a beautiful engine."
"An engine?" Korra arches an eyebrow. "Seriously, that's what you've got for me?"
Asami laughs. "We've been at it for a while. My legs and brain aren't exactly functional right now." She presses a finger to Korra's chest. "That's your fault, you know."
"I'd apologize but I wouldn't mean it." Her fingers stroke along Asami's face thoughtfully. "I know it sounds dumb but I'm happy to be with you like this."
Asami smirks. "Me too."
"I'm serious. For a really long time my body was a prison. I couldn't escape it. It didn't work the way I wanted or needed it to. It was like my body was the enemy. Now I'm back. I'm just happy I can enjoy it again. That I can use it to make you enjoy yours." The words are innocent and scorching in one. Korra kisses her. Energy surges through Asami. She's not done yet.
There's whimpering.
Asami opens her eyes. There are no stars. There are no mountains. There are no flowers. There is only impenetrable darkness. Korra is on her side, in the fetal position, eyes squeezed shut, hands over her ears. Amon stands at her head. Unalaq is at her feet. Zaheer is to her left. Kuvira to her right. They stare down at Korra.
Asami's breath fogs in the air. She is paralyzed with fear. Korra murmurs. No. No. No no no. Asami stands on shaky legs. What is this? What's happening? Where are they? This isn't the spirit world. This can't be the spirit world. The spirit world is warm, beautiful, safe. This is cold and oppressive.
She calls Korra's name, a question, a prayer. Amon and Unalaq ignore her. Kuvira and Zaheer turn towards her, their forms shifting but sticking, staying, looking back to Korra. Asami growls, hatred festering in her heart. These are the men who caused Korra so much suffering. Zaheer, the man who taught Asami how to hate. He ignores her. Kuvira, the woman who killed her father. She smirks at Asami.
I have a plan. I'm saving you for last. Then you'll get your due and I will destroy you. You'll never get it out. With you out of the way I will be the one true Avatar. I'm the one who brought peace to the Earth Empire, not you. You're not relevant here anymore.
Words, voices, fusing together, indistinguishable. Korra pulls tighter and tighter to herself.
Amon's mask, intimidating, friendly, turns to Asami. She blinks, and takes a startled step backward. "You betrayed your father, your only family for the Avatar." The words pierce. His focus moves to Korra. He stoops, kneeling at her head. The others shift. Zaheer and Kuvira hold her arms. Korra kicks. Unalaq pins her legs down, his form glowing dark, laughing at her struggle. "As long as you're the Avatar you will never know peace," Amon tells her, "Let me give it to you," he brings a thumb to Korra's forehead.
Asami and Korra scream at the same time.
Korra kicks again, alert now, her eyes wild, scrambling back, panting. They disappear. Asami gets to her, takes her arms. "It's all right. They're gone." Are they? Where have they gone to? She only sees darkness. "I don't understand. What are they doing here? How can they be here?"
"A dream. Just a dream," Korra breathes raggedly, looking around, getting to her feet unsteadily, searching the darkness for any trace of them. "Are you all right? Did they hurt you?"
"They're not here. It was a dream…" she shakes her head. "How can a dream be here, Korra?"
"A nightmare. Strong emotion, your worst fears," she paces, wiping at her face. "They manifest here. I'm so sorry, Asami. I wasn't thinking—I thought I'd grown strong enough to keep that kind of thing away… but when I'm sleeping—I can't control it. Nightmares aren't just nightmares in the spirit world. Especially not the Avatar's."
Asami wraps her arms around her. "I don't want an apology. I just want to know you're okay." Korra hugs her back fiercely. "That was scary." She draws a breath. "I'm so sorry I couldn't do anything to stop it. Sometimes I feel completely useless around you."
"That's bunk."
"No, I mean it. What if you hadn't woken up? You could have been hurt and what would I have been able to do?"
"You would have used that brain of yours to figure something out." She takes Asami's hand and they sit. "I know this looks scary right now but give me a few minutes. I can push this away."
Korra sits, fists touched together, taking long, even breaths. Soon, a campfire appears, the flames warm, lashing at the night. A curtain of stars unravel across the skies. Korra exhales. "Looks like that's all I have in me right now. The rest will come back." She stares into the fire, the light making her face soft, her eyes glow.
"Are your dreams always like that?"
"Not always." Korra sighs. "Sometimes it's only one of them. Memories of what's happened." She runs her fingers through her hair. "It's been years since most of that stuff happened. I feel like I should be over it by now. I took Zaheer and Toph's advice. I've accepted what's happened. It made things easier—and—I really do feel better about it. But accepting it doesn't make it go away."
"I know. You get to decide when you're ready, when it's been long enough. No one else."
Korra takes her hand. "Thanks. You always know what to say to make me feel better."
At least she can do that. She treads carefully. "I was surprised to see Kuvira. You haven't talked much about her or what happened." They both grimace. Asami regrets bringing it up. The stars dim at the mention and one by one they start to blink out. "We don't have to talk about her now." Asami remembers how her heart soared at seeing Korra walk out of the spirit portal. Kuvira was at her side. Korra was guiding her out as if she were someone who wasn't a monster, who hadn't torn apart the city Asami helped build in Korra's absence, as if she hadn't been the one to murder her father. She hasn't thought about it for a reason.
The stars go out. Korra squeezes her hand. "Let's talk about it when we're not here. Okay?"
The fire has been reduced to embers. Asami nods stiffly.
Korra returns. The tea kettle remains, along with Asami's steaming cup of tea. Something about the tea warms her in a way that goes deeper than a simple cup of tea should. Asami stands. "Nice timing. I was just thinking of you." She looks around. It's her, the spirits, the plates of cakes and sweets. "Oh—Iroh was just here—"
"He likes to disappear." Korra takes a seat on one of the chairs and draws Asami into her lap. The spirits around the table clap and whistle. A fox waggles its eyebrows. "Oh, grow up." She looks to Asami. "I went to visit Wan Shi Tong."
"Who's that?"
"This cranky old spirit owl. He's got a great library that I know you'd be into but no matter how I asked and pleaded he wouldn't agree to let you in. Man, he's really got it bad against humans." She sighs.
"So the Avatar can't charm everyone."
"I charmed you. Ugh, I should have beat him up. Or threatened to stuff him!" She slams a fist into her hand. Korra's fired up again. The woman has a tendency for violence and if she didn't save the world as often as she did or if she weren't half so endearing, Asami might worry. "Stupid owl. I made it perfectly clear that you aren't the type to run around starting wars but he wasn't swayed. I'm sorry. I mean, it's so cool, maybe one of the highlights of the spirit world and you can't see it."
"I didn't even know it existed before. But thanks for telling me how cool it is and that I'll never be able to set foot there." She gives her a quick peck on the lips when Korra pouts. "Want some cake?" She swivels, using the fork to cut into a chocolate slice the size of her head and bring it to Korra's lips. Korra eats a bite before looking at Asami regretfully. "What's wrong? Don't tell me you don't like chocolate anymore."
"As delicious as this cake is, it's not real. We're out of food. We can't stay here much longer."
"We just got here."
"No, we didn't. We've been gone almost two weeks."
"No way. That can't be right."
"Hey, one of my Avatar special power thingies is that I'm more in tune with the spirit world than you are. I've loved every minute I've spent here with you but it doesn't change how much time has gone by. We have to go back. The city's probably still a wreck and there are people who need me." She takes Asami's wrist and brings the palm of her hand over her heart. "Believe me, I wish we could stay longer. I've liked having you all to myself."
Asami smiles grimly. "I guess the one disadvantage to dating the Avatar is that I have to share her." Two weeks already? How? How has it all gone so quickly? "Maybe I've been away from Future Industries for too long." There are things that need handling, particularly after the death of her father. A chilly wind picks up, clouds starting to roll in.
Korra kisses her neck. "Hey," she murmurs, "stay with me. We still have time." She knows. The vacation has been perfect—exactly what she needed. It's been a secluded world for the two of them, in a sense, one they can control, unlike the physical world. Asami's heart grows heavy thinking of what's waiting for her, for them, as soon as they leave. "You're not going to ditch me for Future Industries as soon as we get out of here, are you? Once a workaholic, always a workaholic?"
"You're one to talk." She palms Korra's face. "I lost you for three years." In a way, Korra is all she has left. "I'm not giving you up. Work can't be my life. Not with you in it. I know you can't say the same—" Korra's the Avatar. Asami will always come second to the world. She understands and accepts it.
"Why can't I?" Korra smiles. "No matter what's happened—no matter what will happen—no one can take this from us." They're back at the spirit portal. Asami isn't sure how it happened. She's fairly sure they were hours and hours away from it. The tea and cakes are gone. It's only the two of them. Asami looks at the spirit portal reluctantly, listening to the gentle hum, noticing the fragrance of fresh flowers in the breeze, the glow, like sunlight splashing over them. "Don't worry. This is only the beginning."
Apprehension builds in Asami. She takes a deep breath in and then out. Korra laces their hands, squeezing gently, smiling reassuringly. The haze of the beyond, dark, with cold wind hissing through, is faintly visible through the spirit portal. Asami readies herself, bracing for the tempest. Together, they push through to the other side, leaving the spirit world behind.
AN: Another chapter that took too much editing. This one won't update as quickly as Falling did. Believe it or not, this was initially much smuttier! I toned it down. This is going to be more of a political story. Look for Kuvira next chapter (and quite possibly Zaheer). Thanks for reading!