Aftermath
Dinner that night was going to be eventful to say the least. Korra stood just outside the dining room, taking a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. It did not help in the slightest, but the moment Asami's hand slipped into hers and she saw the reassurance and love in those green eyes she loved so much, all of her insecurity was blown away. Hand in hand, just like in the beginning, the two of them took the first steps forward toward the next step in their life together.
Everyone was already seated around the extended dinner table, talking about something or other. Tenzin sat by Pema, who held Rohan, and was trying to restrain her husband from going to opposite side of the table to separate Jinora and Kai. Beside the air bending couple, Ikki was attempting to talk Huan's ear off while he in turn just listened with an almost bored expression on his face. Meelo, sitting between Jinora and Ikki, said something that annoyed/embarrassed his sisters as they both grew red in the face and turned around to scold him. Bolin and Opal sat on the other side of Huan, the girl merely listening to her boyfriend as he relayed the tale of their recent adventures to Mako, who sat beside Lin. Kya sat between Lin and Katara, who was discussing with Toph about making a trip to the Fire Nation to visit Lord Zuko. Beside Toph were Suyin, Bataar Sr., and the twins. On the other side of Tenzin sat Bumi and then Korra's parents. Between Korra's parents and the twins, were two spots for Korra and Asami, completing the circle.
Squeezing Asami's hand gently for strength and to comfort, Korra cleared her throat, calling everyone's attention to her. She waited until everyone was completely silent before she started to speak. "Hey, everyone, um, we have an announcement to make." Everyone turned so they could look at the couple, giving their full attention. Korra faltered but one more look at the beautiful woman by her side strengthened her. "Asami Sato has just agreed to marry me."
Three seconds, Asami counted, before everyone's unanimous cheers nearly deafened her. Bolin got up, embraced them both and spun them around, whooping wildly. Korra glanced at Mako over his brother's shoulder, a concerned look in her eyes. Even after all these years, she and Asami still felt awkward around him sometimes. He just smiled at her, and that was all she needed to know that he still had her back. After Bolin set the pair down, almost everybody came up to give them their congratulations except a few. Beside Mako, Lin's face was priceless. Kya looked almost as surprised as when Bumi discovered he could air bend. Katara and Toph looked at each other before she said, "This avatar is just as slow as the last one," which made Katara smile. Tenzin's shock expression transformed into a proud smile and he only nodded at her. Korra finally turned her attention to her parents. Both Tonraq and Senna were gazing adoringly at the couple, happy tears in their eyes. The moment he was able to, Tonraq pulled both Korra and Asami into a bear hug, only letting them go so that Senna could do the same.
When Korra's mother finally pulled away, she led them to their spots in the dining room and the others returned to their places as well. "I'm so happy for the both of you," she said once they settled down. "So tell us, who proposed to who?" Everyone seemed to lean forward to hear the answer.
Korra scratched her head, embarrassed to have everyone's attention focused on her. "Um, well, I was the one who proposed to Asami," she admitted bashfully.
To both her and Asami's confusion, there were several groans around them with a few crows of triumph. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mako and Lin take some coins out of their pockets and tossed them to Suyin. Kai was doing the same to Jinora while Katara tried to accept her winnings from Toph not too smugly.
"What the – did you all just place bets on us?" demanded Korra, a little indignantly. She pointed a finger at Mako. "And did you seriously bet against me?"
Mako just shrugged apologetically. "Well, I seriously thought it would be Asami." Around the table, there were several nods of agreement.
"Really?" she asked. "Thanks for having so much faith in me, you guys," she muttered as she took a sip from her cup before her.
The rest of dinner was spent planning and throwing around ideas for the wedding, though most of them Korra and Asami were not able to tell whether they were jokes or serious suggestions. When will it be – in a few months – spring – summer maybe? Where will it be – Republic City – the Southern Water Tribe – at the spirit portal where it all began – or maybe in the spirit world itself? What will they wear – either dresses or one in a suit – or perhaps even both in a suit? It would not be the first time they mixed things up. They would have to wear their signature colors, though – that was a must – blue for Korra and red for Asami. What about the bouquet, though – one or two?
By the time, everyone had gone to bed, Korra's head seemed like it had been crammed full of ideas for the wedding that started spinning around and around like a tornado. "So much to do!" she groaned, throwing herself onto the bed like she had the night before. "Well at least we'll have plenty of help." Asami did not reply. Korra raised her head up to look at her wife-to-be. Asami's back was to her, her head bowed. The avatar got off the bed, approaching Asami from behind. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around the taller woman's waist, pulling her back against her front and looking over her shoulder. Asami was looking down at the ring, the fingers of her opposite hand, feeling the engravings etched on the ring. "Don't you like it?" Korra asked, uncertainty creeping into her voice. She had not asked earlier, now that she thought about it.
Asami shook her head and said quickly, "No, I love it. I was just thinking about the wedding and when it should be. Asami pulled against Korra's arms a little, just enough so that she could turn around to face her. "I was thinking it should be as soon as possible… because who knows how long before the world calls for you again."
Korra frowned. She knew where this was going and she could already hear Asami's next words – And what if you don't come back? They both knew that every time the avatar left, there was a chance that she might not return home. Korra pulled her close and silenced her with a kiss. They pulled away only by an inch, enough for her to say, "Don't think about that right now. We're going to get married and spend our entire lives together." Asami nodded, believing Korra's – her soon-to-be wife's words with all her heart. The inventor's arms wrapped around the shorter woman's neck and pulled her in for another kiss. When they pulled away again, Korra was tugging on the bottom of the red material as she added, "Though I do agree with you; we should have the wedding as soon as possible 'cause I can't wait for you to be my wife and for me to be yours."
Asami agreed with a smile as their lips met again and again and again, a little deeper each time.
The next morning when Korra and Asami came down for breakfast, they were surprised when it was only Lin there.
"You know, with all those marks, I think it should be Asami wearing the necklace and not you, though I doubt it would have been able to cover up all of them," Lin commented, her voice almost teasing. Asami pulled the collar of her jacket up a little higher, her cheeks already glowing red. Korra had been very… insistent about reassuring her last night.
Without missing a beat, Korra leant in and said something in voice only loud enough for Lin to hear. Whatever it was made the normally imperturbable woman go red in a blink of the eye. The older woman tugged up the collar of her shirt underneath her armor with one hand while the other tried to swat at the laughing avatar. Korra ducked and hopped back a few feet out of reach. At that moment, Mako chose to enter the dining room and he stopped when he saw a blushing police chief, a laughing avatar and a confused CEO. Seeing him, Lin stomped out of the room, hitting him upside the head as she passed. Asami burst out laughing as she realized what Korra might have said. Seeing the two women laughing at his expense after Lin had stomped out, he suddenly felt warmer than anyone should in the South Pole.