Title: Of mice and avatars
Fandom: Avatar: The Legend of Korra
Pairing: Korra / Kuvira
Rating: PG
Notes: Things are heating up.
X
Republic General Hospital
Asami's asleep in a recliner in the corner when Korra rolls back into the hospital room that night. The avatar puts the bag of food on the table then rolls over to Asami. She sits in front of the raven haired beauty for a moment watching her sleep. Korra was surprised that Asami had stayed there and waited for her. She didn't have to. She could have easily gone home to the king size bed in her mansion, but she didn't. Korra shouldn't have been surprised though seeing how dutiful the young CEO had been with her lately.
The Avatar lowers her eyes and backs away then goes about the tedious action of changing her clothes. She was still fuming over what happened with Kuvira. "Pttf…you don't know anything about me. Think you're so smart just because you work for Su." She says under her breath as she eases herself into bed. Her arms shake as she pushes up out of the chair. "Ahh…ssss…" She says wincing.
Asami slowly opens her eyes then gets up immediately. "Kor…ra? Hold…hold on, let me help you." She says moving toward the struggling woman.
The Avatar's eyes well with tears. "Don't…I got it." She says quickly.
Asami stops and waits seeing the tears in her friend's eyes. Korra's bottom lip trembles as she slumps back down into the chair. Asami kneels down placing her hand on Korra's knee. "What is it? What happened?"
Korra lowers her eyes and takes a heavy breath. "Nothing."
Asami could tell there was something wrong but can see her friend's frustration. So she remains silent and helps Korra lift herself back into the bed.
The Avatar keeps her eyes lowered unable to look Asami in the eye. What Kuvira said to her had hurt like hell. It hurt because Korra knew somewhere deep inside that it was true. She had no idea what she would do with herself in the condition she was in. She was worthless as an Avatar.
Asami finds her courage and takes Korra's hand in hers as she sits next to the bed. She knows that nothing she could say would sooth her forlorn friend, but she tries anyway. "I'm not sure what happened tonight Korra, but I hope you know how special you are. You're one of the bravest, strongest people I know."
Korra closes her eyes allowing a single tear to streak down her cheek. She takes a deep breath then lays back in the bed not letting go of her friend's hand as more tears flow.
Asami sits quietly letting the young Avatar cry. A few minutes later Korra falls asleep still gently cupping her friend's warm hand.
The young CEO's jaw clenches as she releases Korra's hand then stands from her chair. Her heart aches seeing the pained expression on her friend's face.
There is a soft knock at the door. Mako peaks his head in and whispers. "Hey, it's me can I come in?"
Asami takes a deep breath and walks over to him. "Yeah, perfect timing. I need to step out for a while okay. If she wakes up just tell her I'll be right back."
Mako furrows his brow. "Uh, yeah sure no problem." He says quietly. The young firebender couldn't help but notice the expression on his ex's face. One he'd only seen a few times, but he knew what it meant. Someone was about to get chewed out big time.
Asami peaks at the label on Korra's to go box then heads out the door. She sits in her car in the parking garage trying to calm herself down. It was one thing to see Korra hurt physically, but seeing her best friend cry was more than the heiress could take.
Kwong's Cuisine
Twenty minutes later she parks her car in front of Kwong's Cuisine. The Maitre d' bows to her. "Lady Sato, how may I help you this evening?" He asks.
Asami is fuming seeing that the place was empty on a Friday evening. She already knew what it meant. "Who reserved the restaurant this evening?"
The tall thin man is slightly flustered. He clears his throat. "Apologies Lady Sato but as you know that information is confidential."
The heiress takes in a slow deep breath, knowing who she needed to talk to in order to confirm her suspicions. "Tell Mushu I need to speak with him." She says knowing that they only trusted one chef for their high profile guests. He was her father's personal chef for many years and would tell her anything she wanted to know.
"He's off for the evening."
Asami furrows her brow. "Who's the chef on duty then?"
The Maitre d' straightens his tie. "Lady Sato as I said that information is…"
The young CEO stares daggers into the man's eyes to the point that he stops speaking. Asami's mind is racing with scenarios of what Korra's evening had been like. Had Kuvira really cooked for her? What kind of game was the Captain playing? Korra may not have caught on to the militant woman's intention, but it was clear to Asami and becoming clearer as the night wore on. Kuvira was attracted to Korra.
Asami is practically breathing fire as she makes her way to the Four Elements Hotel. It was well known that most visiting foreign dignitaries stayed in the presidential suite. Suyin's entourage wouldn't be staying anywhere else.
X
30 minutes later…
Four Elements Hotel
Asami sits outside the hotel trying to get a grip on herself. Why was she so angry? Why did she even care? She knew the answer to both those questions but was unwilling to admit it to herself. The pale skinned woman takes in slow deep breathes staring at the lights from the cars in the parking lot. All she can see is Korra's tears in her mind. "I'll take care of this Korra. Kuvira should know better. She shouldn't have asked you to leave the hospital in the first place. The doctors said you needed bed rest, everyone knew it and so did she." Asami says to herself trying to rationalize why she was confronting the captain of the guard.
She knocks on the large green doors with gold embossed seams. The Lieutenant comes to the door. "May I help you?" He asks.
Asami takes in a deep breath through her nose putting her shoulders back slightly. "Yes, my name is Asami Sato. I need to speak to Kuvira please."
The man looks her up and down then stares into her eyes. "I'm sorry, but the Captain wasn't expecting you. If you want to meet with her you'll need to make an appointment through the President's office."
The raven-haired woman can tell she's being examined, but she's not going to lose her nerve. "I suppose it's too much to ask who she 'WAS' expecting."
Another set of double doors opens behind the Lieutenant. Kuvira emerges wearing a dark green silk robe with her hair down. "What can I do for you Miss Sato?"
Her Lieutenant turns around. "Captain…"
"It's alright, let her in." Kuvira says walking back into the suite. The man stands to the side and Asami walks in behind her.
The Captain pulls her robe a little tighter then sits down on the couch and crosses her long muscular legs. "Is Korra with you?" The heiress's eyes widen then her stomach tightens surprised by the question. Kuvira notices right away. "Let me rephrase. Did she come here with you?"
Asami nervously gulps. "No, but she is the reason why I'm here."
The confident Captain sits back against the couch. "Hmm, I must admit I'm surprised. I thought she was more headstrong than this."
The young CEO furrows her brow. "What?"
Kuvira exhales softly. "Let's get down to it shall we?" She says. Asami opens her mouth to speak and is interrupted. "Are you romantically interested in the Avatar?"
Asami is floored by the question. "What…no…I….she's…Korra and I are friends. I'm here to find out what you…"
Kuvira interrupts her. "Good, because… I… am." She says slowly prompting Asami to stop speaking. "The Avatar is a strong woman and what she needs right now is someone by her side who isn't willing to bend to her perception of weakness. She isn't going to get better being coddled by you and her family 24/7. I challenged her this evening in the hopes that she would remember the Avatar she was when she left Zaofu last month. The one who knew herself fully and completely. I pulled her weakness to the surface by telling her how pitiful she was. I expected her to come here and prove me wrong." She says locking eyes with Asami. "But you showed up instead."
The perceptive Captain could tell that Asami had feelings for the Avatar. She knew that from the first moment she'd laid eyes on them together at Zaofu. She also saw how timid Asami was around Korra too and knew she wouldn't make a move on her.
The raven-haired woman's jaw clenches. She breathes roughly through her nose. Was Kuvira really expecting Korra to come see her tonight? "I'm here because Korra is my friend and I care about what happens to her. What you did tonight was uncalled for. Korra has been poisoned and paralyzed. The last thing she needs right now is someone telling her that she's weak when she's trying to find her strength again."
Kuvira spreads her arms out on the top of the couch revealing a tasteful amount of cleavage through her robe. She locks cold hard eyes on Asami. "So you're here to tell me to apologize to her?"
Asami sits up straight not backing down from Kuvira's display of intimidation. The young CEO knew how to read body language very well. The captain wanted her to know that she didn't feel threatened by her in the least. "I'm not here to tell you to do anything. I just wanted you to be aware that your actions had consequences." She says unafraid to meet the woman's green-eyed gaze.
Kuvira smirks and chuckles reading the young CEO like a book. "That's not why you're here." Asami swallows softly as the Captain gets up from the couch motioning for the Lieutenant. "Something you should know about me Miss Sato, I always get what I want. And I want…Korra, so why don't we call it a night so you can get back to your 'friend'. I have a busy day tomorrow."
Asami stands up from the couch and walks with the Lieutenant to the door. She stops and turns around as Kuvira walks toward her bedroom.
"Was there something else Miss Sato?" Kuvira asks holding the handle to her door with her back turned.
"You might want her, but you're not what she needs." Asami says confidently.
Kuvira turns with a sly smirk. "And you are?" Asami gulps lowers her eyes then moves through the door. Kuvira giggles softly as she walks into her bedroom.
TBC…
