Bit of a warning, I guess. I fear some may see Asami as a tad OOC in this chapter, but Korra has hit her rock bottom to start her new beginning. Asami needs to hit hers. It's all very symbolic, I assure you.
Enjoy.
Asami stretched and opened her eyes slowly. She turned her head and her eyes met Korra's sleeping face. An easy smile graced her features while she propped herself up on an elbow. Her eyes traveled down Korra's toned frame that was clad only in a sheet. I hope I can start every day off like this. She moved her hand under the sheet and traced soft circles on her lover's stomach.
She was glad they had the time to grow more comfortable in their newfound love. Yes, she was disappointed that she had to spend the day away from her, but she was excited to get business set up with Tonraq. This was going to be a huge victory for Future Industries and the Southern Tribe. She was thrilled she could put people back to work and this new development will help her improve the construction of her Satomobiles.
Her hand moved up Korra's body and stopped when she met the swell of her breast. Korra stirred but didn't wake. Her nose twitched and Asami's heart lurched. Damn it, that's so cute. She's so adorable, how could I not have known my love for this woman? I love her so much. She smiled to herself.
"What are you smiling about?" Korra moaned sleepily, eyes still shut.
"How do you know I'm smiling?"
"I can tell." Korra mumbled, stretched and yawned. "How did you sleep, darling?"
"Perfectly. I don't think I've ever slept better than when you hold me." Asami purred snuggling against Korra's shoulder. Korra smiled sleepily and wrapped her arm around Asami's shoulders.
"If that's the case then I'll hold you some more." Korra said pressing a kiss to Asami's forehead.
"As temping as it sounds, I need to get up and meet with your dad."
Korra groaned and rolled away. Asami kissed just below her lover's ear. Korra shivered when Asami's breath tickled her ear. "Stop that or I won't let you leave."
Asami smiled. As much as she wanted to stay in bed with Korra, she really couldn't. She glanced over at Korra who had already curled up under the blankets. Asami slowly slid out of bed and picked up the furs at the foot of them bed. She made her way to Korra's side and draped them over her. Korra made a content noise and smiled up at Asami.
"Thank you." Korra said with a yawn.
Asami bent down and pressed a kiss to Korra's forehand. She stood and noticed the fire had died down. "Do you want me to throw another log on for you?"
Korra sat up and punched a flash of fire straight into the fireplace, bringing it to life. "Nope, I'm good." Korra smiled as she lay back down.
Asami rolled her eyes and put another log in anyway, she knew these would die out soon enough. Firebender or not, she wanted Korra to stay warm. She dressed and quietly slipped out of the room. There was much to be done today.
"So, as you see I can attempt to alter some of my father's old designs and we can use those instead of relying on waterbenders."
Tonraq raised a dark brow. "Something wrong with using waterbenders?"
Asami paused slightly. "Not at all, I just realize the danger. Also, I know many are still injured from the war. This gives them time to heal and frankly gives me a chance to test my designs."
"What if the mechatanks fail? Wouldn't the pilots be killed?"
"I can bring some of our test pilots from Republic City. Their trained for these situations."
"I'm worried about the water temperature though." Tonraq said smoothly.
Asami nodded and ran a hand through her dark hair. This could serve to be an issue. Senna sensed her trepidation and handed Asami a glass of water.
"Just train our waterbenders how to use the mechatanks. If something goes wrong they're used to such icy waters." Senna said causally, lovingly moving a strand of Asami's hair out of her face.
Tonraq and Asami looked at each other and nodded. Tonraq laughed and motioned to Senna. "This is why I married her. I wouldn't know what to do without her." He said with a wide smile.
"You'd be absolutely lost without me." She said giving him a peck on the cheek.
"It's a fabulous idea, Senna." Asami said. "I'll send word to have a team of engineers bring the mechatanks here and start the alterations and training."
Tonraq was silent for a moment and then cleared his throat. "Asami, I realize questioning your decision not to use our waterbenders may have come off the wrong way. I apologize."
Asami raised a questioning eyebrow at him, but a moment later she realized what he had meant. He was worried he had made her sound like an Equalist.
"I honestly didn't even think of it that way. I was merely worried it would be a safety issues for some. I know the war was devastating down while we were trying to get things together."
Tonraq let out a small sigh of relief. He was glad he hadn't offended her. Wouldn't that have been swell? 'I'm sorry Korra, I just called your new love an Equalist.' He shook his head at the thought. Asami laid a hand over his; she knew what he was thinking.
"It's true, many people don't trust me because of what my father did. We had such a close relationship that many people just assumed I supported his ties. However, it's an issue you don't need to tip toe around. I know you weren't thinking of me that way, but you don't need to analyze things afterwards to make sure I'm not offended." She smiled softly and Tonraq returned it.
"I knew there was always something about you, Asami." He said.
Asami blushed and pulled her hand away. Senna smiled at this interaction. She moved to Asami and kissed the top of her head before pulling her into a small hug. "I couldn't agree more. You're a special young woman."
Tonraq let out a laugh. "She can handle Korra. She's more than special. She's tough and resilient." He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Are you sure there's no Water Tribe in your background?"
Asami smiled and shook her head. "No, my father's family goes back to the Fire Nation colonies and my mother's family was from Ba Sing Se."
Korra stirred and opened her eyes. She had slept in longer than she had meant to. Asami left to meet with her father hours ago. She glanced down at Asami's pillow; she buried her face in it and inhaled deeply. She loved Asami's scent. It was a faint mixture of vanilla and fire lily. It was distinctly Asami's. She sighed contently into the pillow.
Her head lifted slightly when she heard the door creak open.
"Hey, sleepyhead. You should probably get up. It's almost noon." Asami said softly stroking Korra's hair.
"Oh shit, are you serious?" Korra said jumping up. "I knew I slept longer than I should, but I didn't realize it was that late."
Asami chuckled and pulled the younger woman into her arms. "It's not that big of a deal. Everyone has gone back to Republic City, so it's not like you have airbending training."
"Wait, everyone left?"
"The world doesn't stop moving when you're asleep."
"Why didn't anyone wake me?"
"We know you need your rest, Korra. You've been through a lot." Asami said lovingly, stroking her hair. "Fighting Unalaq was completely different from Amon. Even Tenzin agreed you needed a break."
Korra sighed and leaned into her lover. Asami was right; she needed a break. "All the spiritual things are draining."
"I'd say 'I know' but I have no idea." Asami said with a soft chuckle.
Korra kissed her cheek lightly. Asami's arms tightened around her lover. "How was talking with my dad?"
"Just fine. We got just as much worked out as the first time we spoke, if not more. I've sent word to my engineers in Republic City to bring down some mechatanks so we can refit them for deep sea usage."
"That's good. It gives you a practical use for them."
"I'm actually very relieved for that. There are already people accusing me of war profiteering."
"Because you made money off of the civil war?"
"Yes and in a way I guess I am guilty of that." Asami said with a shaky sigh. "I don't want to be one of those people who will do anything for a quick yuan."
"Varrick?"
"Exactly."
"Asami, you're better than that. Future Industries is successful because you work honestly and make a quality product. Even with everything else about your father, he was a talented industrialist."
Asami nodded. "That he was. He didn't make shady backroom deals. Well, other than Amon…I wonder when all of this started and why I was so blind not to see it."
Korra placed a finger over Asami's lips. "Hey, what's done is done. The only thing you can do is move forward. Once you get this deal going with my dad, I'm sure people will forget all about that. We they see how many people you're putting to work, I mean come on."
Asami shook her head. "I may be putting a lot of people to work, but for people in Republic City, it's in the wrong place. Many people could care less about what's going on outside of the city. Why do you think so many people were ambivalent towards the civil war?"
"You make a good point. Isn't there anyway you could improve employment in the city?"
"Given the company's economic state right now, it's more beneficial to work on building in the South. I want to try and make up revenue holes by going international. It's going to take a long time for Republic City to forget that my father was basically Amon's right hand man."
"But with a man like my father backing you in the South it makes you look good to the rest of the world?"
"Exactly."
"Well, we could talk to General Iroh and see if the he could send word to his father."
"For what?"
"To see if the Fire Nation may be open to something like this. We have a good history with Iroh and he'd probably be willing to help."
Asami looked at Korra and gave her a deep kiss. "You have wonderful ideas."
"I fell in love with you, didn't I?"
Asami openly blushed when Korra said this. Korra chuckled and kissed the end of Asami's nose.
"Hey! I have another idea!" Korra said with an excited squeak.
Asami raised her eyebrows.
"You said people are accusing you of war profiteering, right? Well, if we go public with our relationship, people will see it as you helping me. Not benefitting from the war." Korra said clapping her hands together.
Asami furrowed her eyebrows and bit her lip. It could work, but there are still many unknown factors. People would accuse her of using The Avatar to further business goals, but she was a well-known ally of Korra's. She pledged her support to help Korra fight Unalaq from the beginning, not to mention siding with The Avatar to take down her own father. However, Korra's relationship with Mako was semi-public. There had been no official announcement, but a lot of people knew The Avatar was dating. The biggest problem is that I'm a woman…
"I'm honestly not sure about that. Many people know that I'm a long-standing supporter of The Avatar, but we're both women. That could ruffle some feathers." Asami said slowly.
She didn't miss the flash of hurt in Korra's eyes. "I understand, you don't want to lose public support. Or investors for that fact."
She thinks I'm ashamed of this. Asami mentally slapped herself. Asami, how could you be so stupid? Putting your company over her.
"I didn't mean that how it sounded. I'm not ashamed of this or the fact that I realize I'm not attracted to men." Asami said cupping Korra's face. "We'll go public with this."
"Don't do it because you feel bad."
"I'm doing it because I love you and I refuse to be selfish in this matter." Asami said defiantly. "It's going to mean a lot more public attention and it might not all be positive."
Korra nodded. Asami smiled slowly and cocked an eyebrow.
"I'm a fair businesswoman, but I'm a astute one as well. You averted two potential world disasters, you ended a centuries long conflict between the North and South, and you've restored balance with the two worlds. You do have high public approval. The world loves you. Admittedly, partly because of your heroics and partly because of who you are, but the world needs its Avatar." Asami said with a cunning look in her eyes. "I've fought with you on many occasions and in war, stranger things have happened. Life has thrown us together."
Korra nodded. She understood what Asami was getting at. "My public image will help you increase sales."
"Precisely. If people accuse me of using you for publicity, we just remind them of my service record with you." Asami rubbed her thumb over Korra's lips. "It's perfect."
"Sounds vaguely like using my public image for your personal gain, though." Korra said pulling back slightly.
Asami face paled. "Shit. It does, doesn't it?" Asami mentally slapped herself again. "I'm sorry."
Korra held up her hand to silence the taller woman. "I may need more proof that you truly love me."
Asami cocked her head to the side. Korra pushed her back onto the bed and straddled her waist. Her hair spilled around her face as she kissed Asami.
"What do I need to do?" Asami breathed out as Korra's lips found her neck and began to kiss gently.
"Take the rest of the day off, strip out of your clothes, and spend the rest of the day in bed with me." Korra whispered before her tongue snaked in Asami's ear.
"Y-yes, my love."
Senna approached the back house, or the Avatar-Sato love nest, as she liked to joke. She hadn't seen either of the girls in several hours. Well, I haven't seen Korra at all today. Their dinner is beginning to get cold. She approached the door and rested an ear to it. She chuckled when she heard soft moans and heavy breathing.
She shook her head and started to make her way back down to the main house.
"Somehow, I think breakfast may end up being their next meal."
Asami's head fell back against the pillow, she was exhausted. Korra had been relentless for hours, not that she had minded, but her energy had left her.
Korra chuckled and laid her head on Asami's shoulder, pulling the taller woman's arm around her shoulders.
"Tired?" Korra smirked smugly.
"Extremely." Asami yawned. "You seem proud of yourself."
"Oh I am. I got to make you scream my name, declare your love for me, and beg all in the same night." Korra nipped at her shoulder. "It was fun to see the powerful Asami Sato squirm under me all night."
"When did you get so bold?"
"When you started to want to use my public image to your advantage."
Asami's stomach lurched in revulsion. "That's really what I'm doing isn't it?" Asami sat up. She was disgusted with her self. She had said she didn't want to be one of those people and look what happened. She grabbed her robe and slipped it on. "Spirits, what kind of fucking person am I?"
Korra sat up, eyes wide. "Asami…"
Asami's shoulders slumped with anger. She looked over at the wall and executed a perfect sidekick, almost putting her foot through the wall.
Korra jumped up and clasped her shoulders. "Asami, I was just teasing you. I'm the one who gave you idea."
Asami sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm just agitated about all of this. I'm worried it'll blow up in my face."
Korra's arms moved around her waist. "Shush, everything will work out. Come back to bed."
Asami nodded slowly. She shed her robe and let Korra lead her back to bed. Korra wrapped her arms around her lover and kissed her forehead.
"I'm sorry. I teased you too much."
"No, I'll find another way."
"Asami. Stop." Korra spoke sternly. "I took my teasing too far. We're going to go through with this plan. You're not going public with this solely because I'm The Avatar. You're doing this because I'm Korra and you love me. Right?"
"Yes."
"I don't mind. I want Future Industries to succeed and we'll do whatever we can to help it succeed." Korra said softly. "You're worried everything will fall apart?"
Asami nodded and buried her face in Korra's shoulder. She squeezed her eyes shut. She didn't want to cry, she was stronger than that. It was when Korra kissed the top of her head so tenderly that her resolve broke. She began to sob. She sobbed for everything that had happened. She sobbed for her father being betraying her, her company's uncertainty, her mother's death, and all her heartache. She had never let herself cry before. She had held it all in, she was a Sato. A Sato persevered the pain and went on. A Sato was strong, but here she was falling to pieces into a pit of despair.
Asami bit her lip. No, she was falling to pieces into the arms of her lover, a lover who was stroking her back lovingly and cooing to her, and a lover who was prepared to fight a war she really had no stake in. No stake other than wanting to see her succeed. She was falling to pieces into the arms of the love of her life.
Korra pulled back and kissed Asami's tears away. "Shhh, Asami, it'll all be okay."
"With you, it will be." She sniffled. "I've never cried this much."
"You've held it in for far too long."
"I have. I found myself crying for my mother."
Korra kissed her tenderly. "Pain like that takes a long time to overcome, but you buried it all. I think Future Industries' uncertainty caused you to fall apart."
"It brought it to the edge, but being in love with you is what caused me to lose it."
Korra furrowed her brows in confusion. "What?"
Asami smiled softly. "Being with you gave me the chance to let my walls down. I felt safe with Mako, but I was always guarded. I don't have to be with you. When I'm weak, I know you'll be strong for me."
"I always will be, Asami. It hasn't been long, but I feel everything with you." Korra whispered. "When I lost my connection the past Avatars my spirit was broken, but when I'm with you things are better. I feel calm. I feel stable. Asami, I feel loved and it strengthens me."
The two women smiled at each other. Asami nestled deeper into Korra's arms, who rested her head on Asami's.
They didn't know what time it was and they didn't care. They just needed to be together, to take comfort with one another.
Asami's mind was at peace and Korra's spirit had calmed.
Right now, that's all that mattered. Tomorrow would be another day, but this was their moment of peace, love, and comfort. A moment only true love can bring.
Daaaaaaaaaaamn. That was sappy as shit. I thought about ending it here, but I decided against it. I'll keep this one going for a little while. I have a shit storm in the waiting for this one, so it'll get interesting from here. Just wanted to be a little fluffy tonight.
Forgive me my fluffy transgressions.
Side note: I guess the semi-colon is my new best fucking friend or something. I use it A LOT. Sorry, I've been drinking. Woo!
