The Road to Forever

Chapter 7

"I just wanted to tell you guys thank you. Really, for everything. I know that I probably shouldn't have asked for it but your help in getting my Dad back was...well just thank you." Korra told the group bashfully. They were settled into the kitchen on Varrick's yacht. After exploring the ship and discussing plans for when they reached Republic City, they had settled into the expansive kitchen to enjoy a small meal.

"Korra, you don't have to thank us! We're your friends and that's what friends do. Besides, after what Unaloq has done, we'll help you to the end." Mako told her.

"Mako's right Korra! We've got your back!" Bolin said grinning as he pumped his fist in the air and stuffed his mouth with more as Pabu tried to not so stealthily sneak his paw into the bowl.

Korra looked then at Asami who just smiled and nodded. Korra felt warmed by the support of her friends and knew she was lucky to have them. Team Avatar really was back in business.

There was a small crash and everyone turned to see Pabu with the bowl of noodles and broth now on his head. "Pabu! All you had to do was ask nicely!" Bolin shouted as the rest of the gang laughed.

"Hey...has anyone seen Varrick?" Asami asked when she was able to stop giggling at the sight of Naga cleaning the broth off of Pabu's head.

"He and Zhu Li went to go do his cucumber sponge bath…" Mako told her and shivered.

"Wow...is that really something the rich do? Pay their assistants to give them sponge baths? Asami, do you have that?." Bolin asked excitedly.

"No, no and no way" answered Asami dryly. "And on that fun note, I'm going to head to bed. Good night you guys!" Asami said as she waved and left the room.

"I think she has the right idea. Good night!." Korra told Mako and Bolin before she too exited the kitchen not far behind the engineer.

As Korra entered the hallway she noticed that Asami didn't head towards the rooms but instead toward the other side of the ship. Curious, she followed and soon found Asami in a decently sized 'workshop'. Varrick probably liked to tinker here when he was at sea as there were parts and tools strewn about on various work tables.

Korra watched as Asami sat down at one such work table and pulled over her glove and began taking it apart.

"Thought you were headed to bed?" Korra asked her.

Asami, not startled in the least, just smiled and kept working. "I thought I heard you behind me. I could ask you the same thing. I heard you tell the boys you were going to bed as well."

Korra blushed a little at being caught but she wasn't sure why it bothered her. "I saw you headed this direction. Thought I'd make sure you were ok."

Asami looked up then, her eyes thoughtful as she considered Korra for a moment before smiling. "We're on a boat in the middle of the ocean Korra. I'm pretty sure the most dangerous thing out here is the sight of Varrick in his cucumber bath."

Korra laughed and shook her head. She finally hopped up onto a nearby work table and watched as Asami continued to work on taking apart the glove.

"Ok, ok you got me. I was curious what you were up to. Why are you taking it apart?" Korra asked.

"I'm trying to make a couple adjustments to it. Mainly to the power level. I want to up the voltage setting but also make it so that I can better alter the setting in a fight. Right now it doesn't have much range. I'm hoping to fix that. Could come in handy soon."

Korra frowned and looked away, her thoughts turning to all the reasons why Asami was even working on her glove. The young engineer seemed to sense her friend had become subdued and looked up. She was startled to see Korra with such a dark look in her eyes.

"Korra? What's wrong?" Asami asked.

"Nothing really. I just hate that you feel like you have to do that. I hate that you're involved in all of this. Mako and Bolin too. You're all in danger and it's my fault. If I had just listened to Tenzin and my father about Unaloq from the start, I might have prevented all of this!" Korra nearly shouted the last part, slamming her fist on the work table.

Asami stayed silent as she watched her friend blame herself again for the problems in the world. She finally stood up and walked over to her, bending to pick up a screwdriver that had fallen to the floor.

"Korra...you are not to blame for everything that goes wrong in the world. Unaloq was...is...determined to take over the Southern Water Tribe. He's determined to have power no matter what. He was going to find a way to achieve his goals with or without your help." Asami told her.

"But I still helped him...I still betrayed my father." Korra whispered.

"Is that what this is really about? You think you betrayed Tonroq? Korra, you saved him! You did everything you could to stop him when you thought he was going after Unaloq and you had good reason to think he was! Everything you have done up to this point was because you truly believed you were doing the right thing. Now, we're going to get to Republic City and get help to make things right again. Ok?"

Korra nodded before looking again at the glove behind Asami. "I'm worried that one day that glove won't be enough to protect you Asami. That I won't be there to help you when that happens…." Korra told her softly.

Asami tensed and looked hard at the younger girl. "Are you saying I can't take care of myself because I'm a nonbender?"

"What?! No! That's not...no! I'm not saying that at all. I'm just as worried about not being there when something happens to Mako or Bolin. I just...don't want to fail you guys."

Asami was still tense, not entirely sure she believed Korra. But she could tell the Avatar was genuinely worried. "You won't fail Korra. And we're going to do everything we can not to fail you either. So don't worry so much, ok? Besides, I'm pretty resourceful even without the glove, remember?" Asami grinned finally.

Korra chuckled. "You're right. I'm going to head to bed, for real this time. Goodnight Asami."

"Goodnight Korra".


"Korra, good luck with General Iroh. I hope he's able to help." Asami told Korra as they left the dock.

"Thanks, me too. And hey...keep an eye out for more arrows if you're going to be hanging around Varrick."

"Yeah yeah, I know. Thanks for that by the way" said Asami, though she seemed tense and had frowned a little.

"Something wrong Asami?"

"No. Nothing's wrong. I'm going to get to work on setting up that shipment of mecha tanks."

"Oh, well ok. I'll see you later!" Korra smiled and ran off to find the General while Asami watched her leave.

Why was she so annoyed? Asami knew Korra hadn't meant anything with the arrow comment. The younger girl had genuinely saved her by pulling her back and out of the way of the arrow that maniac had shot blindfolded. So why did it bother Asami so much?

Because she had to save you in the first place. She's a bender...the Avatar...she probably felt the arrow sailing through the air. Whereas you...you could have been killed and by Varrick of all people!

"Dammit...I shouldn't let this bother me…" Asami muttered to herself. But it did bother her. She was beginning to feel helpless. Not being able to save her mother, failing to see the madness her father had fallen into until it was too late, and now being unable to save her family's company without the help of a war...what good was she?

"Stop it. You are Asami Sato and you are going to fix this. You're going to save the company, you're going to help stop this war and you're going to prove to everyone that you're worth something!" Asami whispered fiercely to herself before stomping off in the direction of her factory.

Deep down though, she could still hear the voice of doubt in her mind. Telling her she was going to fail everything. That she was going to fail them all...fail Korra. It was that last part that made Asami's heart seem to stutter and it angered her. "I need to stop letting her get to me. It doesn't make sense!" Asami growled as she continued towards the factory. It was time to get back into the work room and under an engine, the place she felt most at home and could think the best.