CHAPTER II: NEON LIGHTS
As it turns out, it was easier to sneak away from Air Temple Island than Korra thought. Asami used the phone in the room to call the harbormaster of her private Future Industries dock, and he sent a driver to come pick them up. Everyone was already inside the main dining room, and the sun had just begun to set when the boat driver arrived, so it was a simple matter to get away without being noticed. The speedboat was spacious enough to fit Korra in the front, next the pilot's seat, and Asami took the wheel after they secured Korra's wheelchair. Korra loved being in or near water, though she never really liked riding in these fast boats, and she was thankful when Asami took it slow. By the time they reached the other side of the bay and docked their watercraft, the sun was almost fully behind the horizon. Asami told the driver he could leave the boat there, that they would drive it back, and he courteously bowed his head and left.
Now that they were here in Republic City, and at night, Korra was glad they snuck away. The City truly was at its most glorious at night. Practically every building was lit up, with some going way over the top with the amount of lights, though somehow it never seemed cheap or gaudy. Korra had long ago realized that she would have to live here for eternity before she got bored with Republic City. There was activity all around them, yet there was a sense of ownership and solitude in that moment for Korra. It had been a long time since she stopped to fully appreciate the City's beauty.
Asami was following Korra's gaze. "Well, what's on the menu for tonight, Miss Avatar?"
Her question brought Korra back to the moment, and to her rumbling stomach.
"Man, I don't know. There's so many choices…," she trailed off.
"Well, you mentioned steak, so how about that?" Asami asked. Remembering her friend's frail condition, though, she added, "but whatever we get, don't overeat."
Korra laughed at this. "First you want me to eat, now you don't. And yes, steak sounds amazing."
Asami took hold of the wheelchair handles and started off down the sidewalk. It was weird, but when Asami rolled her around, Korra always felt in control somehow. If anyone else was pushing her, she began to get a little uneasy, suddenly aware of how vulnerable she actually was by sitting here. Not with Asami at the wheel, though. Korra couldn't explain why she felt this way, having noticed it just the other day. But the fact that she was always at ease with Asami hadn't escaped her.
They arrived at a rather high-class steakhouse that overlooked the bay, and Korra bristled. She'd never been to a place like this before. Not like there had been much time before now, though, what with the equalists, then Unalaq, Harmonic Convergence, and then…
It took some considerable effort for Korra to not think about…him. Usually, she didn't have to think about him to relive those final, terrible moments before she almost lost her life. Korra had seen Zaheer many times in her dreams since she'd been back in Republic City, and even though they were just dreams, they terrified her. Recently, she had been forcing herself to stay awake for as long as she could, only giving in to sleep when she physically couldn't stay awake any longer. Korra had begun to worry that Asami was catching on to this nasty habit, but how could she make her understand? It would humiliating to admit to her strong, loyal, and beautiful friend that the Avatar was afraid of having bad dreams.
Though this was Korra's first time here, that obviously wasn't the case for Asami, for all she had to do was flash the hostess a quick glance and she nodded, leading the way to a table. Sometimes, Korra thought, it's awesome to have rich friends. And Asami definitely knew how to get around.
Korra looked up at her friend. "Aren't we a little underdressed for this place?"
Asami faked a hurt expression, pouting her lips like a child before smiling.
"Speak for yourself," she said.
Korra's arms had regained enough strength for her to reach around and elbow Asami playfully in the stomach.
"Is this table pleasing for you, Miss?" the hostess asked Asami.
The table was at a respectable distance away from nearly everyone else, and Korra was glad for it. They could talk freely and easily, without worrying if anyone overheard. It was that perfect time in the evening to go to a restaurant, the time that's a little after the dinner rush but before the late-night drinkers started showing up. There was an open bar to Korra's left, with only a few patrons sitting and chatting. A few other people were dining as well, and there was a rather large group of about five or six men sitting at a semi-circle booth near the back, well out of ear-shot.
"It's perfect, thank you," Asami replied.
Asami placed Korra on one side of the table, then sat down opposite her. Their waiter appeared out of thin-air and asked what each of them would like to drink, Korra asking only for a glass of water, Asami preferring some seltzer with lemon.
Korra scanned the menu, only half-reading its contents. She was too busy trying to not notice that group of men near the back. The men kept glancing in their direction, and she couldn't figure out why. Korra supposed it had something to do with Asami. Wherever they went together, men usually gawked at Asami, much like Mako used to do. It had never really bothered her, because Korra herself recognized that Asami was perhaps the prettiest girl she'd ever met. When people gawked at Korra, it was because they knew she was the Avatar, not because they were stunned by her beauty. Nowadays, though, people gawked at her because she was the Avatar in a wheelchair. By now she was almost used to it, but she still hated the image of vulnerability that this chair projected. She was the Avatar, dammit. Not some hopeless beggar.
"So what are you thinkin'?" Asami asked.
"Huh?"
"Food, Korra," Asami laughed. "What do you want to eat?"
She hadn't thought of that just yet. It was getting harder and harder for Korra to think straight sometimes, even with Asami's soothing presence.
"This is a steakhouse, right? Let's have some of that," Korra said.
"OK," Asami replied. "But just get a small one, or I can split one with you. I just don't want you to be sick later."
"Alright, alright," Korra teased, "I'll try not to spoil my dessert, Mom."
Their waiter, apparently having sensed that they were ready to order, reappeared at Korra's shoulder again with their drinks. Asami ordered for them both, having decided to get a regular-sized dinner steak and split it between the two of them. Korra asked for a baked potato as well, and Asami was glad that her friend had perked up at the thought of eating. Sneaking out had been a good idea, after all.
Their waiter finished writing up their order, bowed, and disappeared again.
"So," Asami began, "how are you feeling?"
Korra was afraid she was going to ask that. Time to play the Lie-to-Asami-Game. Even that was getting harder, on account of the fact that Korra and Asami had been spending almost every day together. But this little outing, while initially pleasing, was slowly starting to worry Korra. Inside the restaurant wasn't so bad, as it was fairly quiet in here, but outside on the busy streets it was almost too much for her. The sound of satomobiles racing wildly past her, the airy hoot of a train's whistle in the background, people running to and fro, even the lights, the lights that Korra most adored, everything began to compress in on her. Right before they entered the restaurant, Korra was experiencing something close to sensory overload, as if all the sights and sounds of the City were building up into a bomb of spectacle and had dropped it on Korra's head.
"…Korra?"
Crap. She was losing the Lying Game, so far. Spacing out after being asked a question is definitely not the best way to appear sane.
"Asami, I'm fine. Really. It's just…this is the first time I've been back in the City proper, you know? I didn't realize how much I'd miss it all."
There. That sounded nice enough. But Korra knew Asami wasn't a fool, and that she wouldn't put up with this act for very much longer. She took a drink of her water, closing her eyes to relish the feeling of ice-cold fluid running down her throat.
Asami nodded, realizing that her friend just needed a little time to relax. She had been worried that the hustle-and-bustle of Republic City might be too much for Korra, and she may have been right.
Asami was idly playing with her hands on the table, and Korra suddenly reached over and put her hand on top of Asami's.
"Asami…thank you for this. I know I'm not the easiest person to get along with, especially now, but I want you to know that I do appreciate everything you've been doing for me."
Asami smiled warmly, and that sight made Korra's insides squirm pleasantly, but she didn't remove her hand. Asami placed her other hand on top of Korra's.
"Korra, you know I'd do anything to help you," Asami said, then smiled again. "I mean, we're here, aren't we? I practically kidnapped the injured Avatar and made off with her into the bowels of Republic City, just so she'd eat a full meal."
Korra laughed with Asami at that, and her insides squirmed even more. What the hell, Korra thought. It's just Asami, and I don't feel sick. Why do I feel this way?
Just then their waiter returned with the best-smelling food Korra had seen in a long time. Then again, air-bison oats smell better than airbender food. Poor Pema. Their waiter gave Korra her half of the steak first, then laid down a separate plate with her potato on it. He served Asami next, who only got her half of the steak, having eaten most of her food back at the island. He then bowed and left without a word. Korra could sit here and inhale that aroma all night, it smelled so good. She immediately tore into her potato, thinking to eat the softer food first, and it was light and fluffy as air. After two large mouthfuls of potato, Korra realized how stupid she'd been for not eating regularly. She was hungrier right now than she ever remembered being before, so she started cutting into her steak, her mouth practically watering at the sight of such succulent meat.
About fifteen minutes later Korra was stuffed. If she thought about it, it was weird to be so full on such a small piece of meat. She could remember eating much bigger portions regularly before her fight with the Red Lotus, but lately she had been feeling so terrible. The healers had recommended taking four small meals per day, to insure that she would get the necessary nutrients she needed to heal, but Korra couldn't do it. Her nightmares usually left her sick in the morning, and she would start to feel sick again near bedtime in anticipation of her nightmares. It was a vicious cycle that she couldn't seem to break, but tonight had been a great start.
"Well?" Asami asked, happy that Korra had managed to swallow some food for once. Asami always worried the most about her friend when she wouldn't eat. "How was it?"
Korra was trying to resist the urge to belch. "Fantastic. Thanks again for this, Asami. I mean it."
Asami checked her watch and gasped. "Oh shit, Korra, it's almost midnight. C'mon, let's sneak you back onto Air Temple Island."
"Good idea," Korra replied.
Those same six men had never left that semi-circle booth, and, Korra noticed while she was eating, they hadn't stopped looking at the two of them either. To her dismay, as Asami stood up and came around the table to get Korra, the men all stood up and exited their booth, watching Asami and Korra the whole time.
"Um…Asami?" Korra said tentatively, not wanting to take her eyes off the men.
"What's up?"
Korra didn't want to point, lest that give the men a reason to approach, but she whispered as Asami continued to wheel her towards the door.
"There are about six guys behind us, near the back of the restaurant. And they don't look friendly."
Asami chanced a glance behind her, easily spotting the men. And they definitely did not look friendly.
"How long have they been there?" she asked Korra.
"Since we walked in."
"Korra! Why didn't you say something?"
"What?! I don't know, because I…"
Korra didn't know how she wanted to finish that sentence. Because I couldn't stop looking at you…because I was worrying about you worrying about me…because I was hungry! Neither of these were exactly right, yet neither of these were wrong. Korra had been thinking all of these things over the course of their short dinner, and she didn't know what to make of them. The weird feeling she had gotten when she held Asami's hand, and the way that feeling had intensified when she had smiled at Korra, were still being processed by her weakened mind.
Asami told the hostess to put the bill on her tab, and the hostess smiled and wished them a good night. Korra wished there were rear-view mirrors on this stupid wheelchair, so she could see if the men were still following. Once they cleared the door and were back outside in the electric-daylight of Republic City's nighttime, Korra almost wished they were back inside with those goons. Her senses were immediately assaulted by the combustion of light and sound all around her, and she threw up her arms to shield her face. When that didn't work, she plugged her ears hoping to drown out the noise. Asami was about to try to comfort her friend, or maybe make a break for the boat, when the door behind them opened.
"Excuse me, Miss Sato. But I think this belongs to you."
Korra felt Asami let go of the wheelchair handles, and she suddenly had that sense of vulnerability again. All she wanted right now was for Asami to take hold of the chair again and tell her everything was going to be OK.
Being turned around and having her eyes shut tight against the City lights, Korra couldn't see who spoke.
Asami turned around just in time to get clubbed across the face by one of the six men. She yelped and stumbled back hard, but steeled herself against Korra's chair, and made ready for the next jab. The man clearly thought he could take Asami out with a single hit, and while it had been a good hit, Asami was a skilled fighter. She could take a punch.
Seeing that she hadn't gone down so easily, the man reared his fist back, aiming right for Asami's face. He let the punch fly, but Asami sidestepped it and grabbed his wrist, twisting to the right so that his forearm was on her shoulder, and she yanked down. A satisfying crunch followed by a resounding pop told her that the man's elbow was now dislocated. These chumps don't know how to fight, Asami thought. Whoever hired them must've thought we'd be easy bait.
Like hell.
Asami crouched and twirled, tripping the crying man, then she stood back up and stomped his face. Mako had taught her that move. It was dirty fighting and she didn't need it, but it made a point. That point being don't you dare get back up.
One down.
"Asami!" Korra yelled, still with her eyes shut tight and still turned around.
Asami turned to face the other five, fists up in a defensive position. One of them decided it was his turn to get his ass kicked, and he stepped forward. Asami knew enough to wait for him to strike first: it's always easier to take out an opponent once you know how they fight. Sure enough, he ran head-first at her and started punching the air. Every punch he let loose came up short, as Asami dodged left and right. After his fourth missed punch, the guy tried kicking. He actually managed to get a good kick at one of Asami's shins, and she cursed herself for having been so careless. His next kick landed his foot firmly in Asami's hands, and she wrenched his ankle to the left with all her might, and he went down. Before he could finish the whimper that had just barely escaped his lips, Asami closed the gap and punched the man's throat, turning his whimper into a confused snort.
Two down.
The remaining four men each had wild looks in their eyes. They briefly looked at each other, clearly trying to decide who was going to fight next, but no one wanted to be the hero.
Then one of them, evidently the smartest of the bunch, yelled, "Let's get her!"
All four of them charged Asami. She wasn't sure if she could take all of them at once. While each were individually stupid and not worth her time, the four of them were nonetheless imposing figures. If nothing else, they at least had her beat in size and numbers. Crap, she thought, I wish Korra could help me.
Korra.
That single word, that name, her name, was resonating through Asami's mind.
Korra.
The one person that Asami cared for the most in this world, and the one who had always been a beacon of strength that Asami could draw upon. Now, Asami had to be that beacon for her friend.
Korra, who right now needed Asami to teach these bastards a lesson.
One of the men was ahead of the rest by a few feet, so Asami focused her fury on him. As he came hurtling towards her, Asami crouched and picked up a small stone, placing it in the palm of her hand. When he got closer, she deflected his first punch with her forearm and spun around to jab him just under the ribs on his left side. She completed the circle by using her momentum to give her punch a little more force, and gave him a good hit on his other side. With the wind being thoroughly knocked out of him, he doubled over in pain, leaving his neck and bald head exposed. Asami took the man's head between her hands, lifted up slightly, then brought it down hard onto her knee. Another dirty move, but she needed any advantage she could get. He fell flat on his back and didn't move.
Three down.
Korra.
Another reverberation of her friend's name in her heard prompted Asami to look for her next contender. She threw the small stone at the first one she saw, pegging him right in his eye. She was going to charge him while he was blinded, if one of the others hadn't snuck around her. He put his arms under Asami's and lifted up, grabbing both her wrists and pulling them tight behind her head.
Well, crap, she thought. Time to see if they can actually hit.
Korra.
Another image of her best friend flashed through Asami's mind, and she began to squirm as best she could in the man's grip. Asami tried to look around for Korra, but she couldn't see much beyond what was in front of her. The mere thought that these men might hurt Korra caused Asami's heart to pump liquid hatred through her limbs, imbuing them with renewed strength. She fought, kicked, and cursed at the man holding her, but to no avail. They had her.
"Who are you people?" she yelled at the one in front of her. "What do you want?"
The man was holding his eye with one hand, trying to stop the bleeding. When he spoke he had a gruff voice, like years of alcoholism were finally catching up to him. "You got a helluva'n arm, girl. And some spunk, too," he added. "I like that. Let's talk."
"Where is it?" he said.
Asami was stunned. If this wasn't such a dangerous situation, she might've laughed.
"Where's what?"
He motioned towards Asami, and the third man planted a solid punch in her gut, followed by a quick jab across the face. She yelped with each hit, but just grit her teeth and took it. As long as they're hitting me, that means they're not hitting Korra, she thought. All I can do now is buy her a little time. Maybe the police might decide to do their job tonight and rescue us.
Asami looked up at the man who had spoken. He walked a little closer to look directly into her face. When he was close enough she summoned the largest glob of spit and blood she could, and spat right in his face.
They hate it when you do that.
He wiped the bloody spittle off his face with the back of his hand, then used that same hand to slap Asami. A good slap can hurt much worse than a punch. A slap stings, and you feel it for a long time afterwards. This particular slap nearly blinded Asami, and she started seeing lights. When she still remained silent the man pointed to a nearby alley. She guessed that meant that they had a getaway vehicle in there, and wherever these goons were going, she was sure that she wouldn't like it.
Korra.
"Asami!"
The man holding her suddenly screamed in pain, dropping his grip on her wrists. Asami whirled around and caught a whiff of a burning smell. Like melting rubber, but mixed with burning hair. She didn't know what caused him to drop her, but she didn't waste any time. She tripped the third man in front of her and gave him a good face-stomping like she'd given their leader. As she turned to face the last one, Asami felt a wave of heat fly right by her. Before her eyes, the last man, the one who had spoken, burst into flames and ran screaming.
What the hell?
Asami turned to seek the source of this flame, but what she saw scared the life out of her.
Korra was lying crumpled on the ground, eyes wide and breathing very heavily. She had one of her hands thrust out in front of her, using the other to prop herself up off the ground, but both arms were shaking badly. Judging by the way her legs were splayed, Asami guessed that Korra had not only just firebended, but she had also stood up out of her chair, which lay next to her.
Asami rushed to Korra's side just as she collapsed, and she gently picked her up and held her steady in her lap. Korra couldn't stop shaking all over, but Asami held on tight.
"It's OK, Korra, it's gonna be alright," she whispered to her broken friend. "I'm here, look, it's me, Asami. I've got you. I'm here, Korra. I'm right here."
Korra was hyperventilating, and her eyes rolled up into her head.
The last thing Korra saw before she blacked out was Asami's tear-strewn face.