Tokuga and his group watched from the shadows as Asami visited her office building one night. It had been a week since she'd spoken out about them and she was starting to get around better than she could, and the nightmares were still there but it wasn't as bad. Korra was always there to save her in the end. She was finally starting to get some sleep and she was starting to feel safer than before. She even convinced Korra to let her go to her office alone. She had to pick up a few things and she wanted to learn how to take care of herself all over again, rather than feeling helpless.
Although Korra was against the idea, being the cute overprotective girlfriend, she let her go because she knew it was best. That didn't mean she wasn't going to be watching her from afar, keeping watch for her safety every now and then.
"When are we grabbing her?" The dark skinned firebender to his left asked, impatiently.
"Are you questioning me, Singe?" Tokuga shot him a death stare, his deformed dragon eel eye making it much scarier.
"N-No. I was just-"
"Shut up," He spat, angrily shoving him aside, "I said on my go. Not yet."
"Um boss. Not to order you around or anything, but it looks like we've got competition." The earthbender to his right commented, pointing to the entrance of Asami's building.
Tokuga turned his attention to what had been being said. He let out a low snarl, nostrils flaring in the process, gritting his teeth against each other. He recognized the dark skinned beauty. She wore a lot of fancy jewelry and makeup with a fancy green and yellow jumpsuit with a pink sash over her torso as if she were Earth Kingdom royalty. She hid a part of her face with a large bang and the other half of her hair in a bulgy brown braided ponytail dangling behind her.
She came into Asami's office uninvited, with two tall pale skinned men, one with hair all over his face like some sort of platypusbear, the other clean shaven. They were all earthbenders, their specialty in crystals, the rings she wore being a dead giveaway.
It was their arch nemesis, the Creeping Crystal Triad. And that was their leader. Jargala.
Asami gasps as she turns around, startled by her unknown visitors, "Can I help you?" She asked, feeling a bit uncomfortable.
Her stomach began to turn in knots and nerves began to rattle against her skin like crazy. She tried her best to calm herself as a wave of anxiety came over her. She was terrified considering this was how she had been kidnapped before.
"More like can we help you, sweetheart." The woman takes a seat on Asami's desk, crossing her leg over the other, "Sorry about what happened, Miss Sato. We offer our sincerest condolences...and services."
"Services?" Asami questioned, a puzzled look on her face.
"Yeah. As the richest businesswoman around here, you've had a big target on your back and it's gotten worse now that you've survived from the Triple Threats. Word on the street is they're not finished with you. So we're here to offer you our services, with only a small price to pay."
The woman acted as if Asami didn't see the smirk on the edge of her lips.
"What services? You mean security?" She frowned slightly.
"Now you're catching on," She wrapped her arm around Asami, "So whaddya say, Miss Sato? Let's do business together, huh?"
"First of all, don't touch me," Asami jerked away from her, "Second of all, I already have security around the building. Third of all, who are you? Why are you here?"
"You dare speak to the Jargala Omo that way?" The earthbender on the left spat in an unpleased tone.
"Hey. Hey. Relax. She didn't mean it." Jargala, she presumes, held her hand up to hold him back as she realized he scared the poor thing. "Leader of the Creeping Crystal Triad. Jargala Omo. In the flesh." She added.
"You're just like them." Asami says in a whisper, "You're here to take whatever you want from me and just leave me to rot." She drops her head, dejectedly.
"Hey kid. Come on. Relax. Don't make me a bad guy now." chuckled Jargala, "I want Tokuga to burn as bad as you do. Which is why I want to do this."
"You don't get it." She raises her voice, sounding much angrier than before, "My money. My company. My home. Everything. All of it. It belongs to Wonyong Keum, Tokuga, and the Triple Threats. So just see yourself out. Leave me be o-or-"
"Or what?"
Jargala looms over her, making her feel much shorter. She stood tall at 5'10, Jargala being at least 6'4. The smirk on the edge of her lips spread wider, in a way to taunt Asami. She gives her a small shove and Asami pushes her hand back against the wall to catch herself.
"What are you gonna do, Miss Sato?" She mocked, "Where's that weapon of yours you like to use? Show me how it works."
"Leave," Asami demands, glaring angrily through tear stained eyes, "Now."
"You're kinda hot when you're angry. I see why the Avatar likes you so much." She taps her nose lightly and Asami slaps her hand away, a little harder this time.
It actually hurts Jargala, her outer brows raising in surprise. She tightened her lips and brought her fist back before slamming it into Asami's injured ribcage. The young engineer gasps out, falling to a knee while writhing about in pain.
She lets out a violent cough, trying to catch her breath from the wind that was knocked out of her.
"I tried to help you. But you're too hardheaded, sweetheart," The older of the two looms over an injured Asami, taking in her only source of light, "Tokuga should be on his way right now unless you have any last requests. Otherwise, I'll leave you for him."
"Korra..." She wheezed out, "K-Korra will protect me."
"Come on boys. She's made her decision," Jargala smiles, wickedly, "For the record, Miss Sato, its a nice thing you're doing, helping rebuild around Republic City and whatnot. Be a shame if you can't finish it."
"Fuck you." She spat.
Jargala stops midway before exiting with her gang, "Excuse me?" She turned around, that smirk now a frown.
"I didn't stutter."
Their leader looks back at them and she motions towards the door, where both of her comrades stand so no one will come in. Jargala then makes her way over to Asami and grabs her by her shoulder and slams her up against the wall, being face to face with her now.
"I was going to let you off with a warning, now you've gone and pissed me off. That time the Triple Threats had you would've made you fix that mouth of yours, but I guess not."
"What are you gonna do that they already haven't done to me? Huh? Kill me? Go ahead. But I tell you what, that will be the last thing you want to do." Asami's voice went hoarse.
"Asami? You still here?" A familiar voice from the outside of the door said.
Korra.
Asami's eyes lit up and just as she was about to attempt to yell for her, Jargala stops her and covers her mouth, placing the other hand over her throat.
"Tell her you're okay and that you'll be out in a minute. Scream and you'll regret it." She whispered in her ear, soon placing a small kiss underneath her ear, "Kay, sweetums?"
She released Asami, the younger woman staggering forward to her desk, hanging onto it for support.
"Yeah. I-I'm here, Korra." She cleared her throat to try and sound normal, "Come in."
"Good girl." Jargala places a hand on Asami's back, sending chills down the young engineer's spine.
The doorknob twisted open and the door slid open, revealing Korra's frame with her bo staff tucked into her arm behind her.
"What's all this?" She asked, curiously, walking in.
"Pleasure to meet you, Avatar Korra," greeted Jargala, "Miss Sato and I were just having a chat. We were just leaving."
Korra noticed Asami looking down, uncomfortably. She had been holding her hand against her ribcage like she were in pain. She wasn't paying any attention to Jargala as she walked out with her members, instead helping Asami out.
"Who were they?" She asked.
"Creeping Crystal Triad." Asami replied, quietly.
"What did they want from you? Do I need to take care of them?"
"No."
Korra knew there was something wrong but she was sure Asami didn't want to talk about it. She doesn't want to pressure her about it either.
Asami wonders if the Triple Threats didn't kidnap her, would Jargala and her goons done so? They were the same kind of people. Threatening others and attacking them to get what they wanted. It was disgusting. And she hated the way Jargala was touching her face and back or kissing her cheek like she was her girl. At least it was just that and not what Wonyong, Tokuga and the rest of the Triple Threats had done.
It still made her shiver at how violated she felt. When she had tried to escape and having two of his comrades hold her against the wall, stomach first. Tokuga was first, his front against her back, reaching his hand down and plunging two fingers inside of her. The small cries and squeaks she let out while their overbearing vicious laughter stabbed into her ears.
All she could do was beg and plead for them to stop as they took turns on her, forcing their disgusting hands anywhere they wanted on her body.
"Don't tell Korra." They'd taunt.
"What does Hiroshi think of his daughter right now?"
"This is all you're worth, sweetheart."
"Should've just behaved yourself."
All those horrid thoughts disappeared into thin air as Korra called her name for the umpteenth time. She sent her attention to her, confused by her surroundings. Her emerald green eyes filled with fear once more.
"Are you okay?" Korra asked, sounding concerned.
She already knew the answer.
"Take me back to the island." She whispers, looking down sadly.
"Did you have a flashback?" Korra places a hand on her back for support.
"I rather not talk about it."
"Okay. Okay, babe. Okay."
Korra hates seeing her struggle. She's never seen Asami like this before. She remembers her telling her the deep depression she was sent into when Yasuko died. But Korra was never there to physically see it. And she couldn't imagine how she felt when Kuvira killed her father that day. The sacrifice he made for her and she watched it all happen while safely landing from a parachute.
Asami had nobody. And it was Korra's job to be there for her. So if something was bothering her, she needed to know. Bad. But she didn't want to force her to speak when it wasn't her place. Nobody made Korra this soft or compassionate. As she looks back throughout the years, she realizes how much she's grown from her own selfishness and immaturity. Now that she's overcome a life changing experience, it was time to help someone else overcome theirs.
She had been doing a damn good job of it too.
"They just were here to knock me around until I gave up some yuans in exchange for protection." Asami finally admits.
"She hit you?" Korra gasped, "Are you okay?"
"I'm okay." She lied.
"Why'd you lie to me? I could've stopped them."
"Because I'm just scared, Kor."
Korra parts her lips to say something, instead nothing comes from them. She tosses her arms around Asami, giving her back a gentle rub. It hurt whenever she was touched there but now it feels a bit better that Korra is comforting her in such a way. She nuzzled her head into Korra's neck, leeching onto her tight.
Korra gently scoops her legs up and picks the young engineer up in her arms.
"One day you'll find your closure. You're on the right path."
And she was. But not until she knew she was truly safe again. Until then the nightmares, the PTSD, visions, none of it would stop. She would torture herself by thinking about it, watching herself being chained up and whipped with fire. The deafening screams she'd let out were unbearable. She couldn't stop thinking about it. It felt like she was in hell.
"How about I take you out tonight? To help get your mind off things?" Korra soothed gently, "My treat."
Asami's lips formed into a small smile, "I'd like that." She tells her.
...
Korra sat with her back against the seat of the boat, Asami's head resting in her chest, eyes slightly closed while the sounds of the peaceful waves around them filled their ears. The bright yellow lights from the harmony tower shone on them but was partially covered by the turtle duck ride. It was quiet, no people around to disturb them, just like they preferred.
She gently rubbed her hand across Asami's shoulder, brushing her lips softly against her temple.
"Beautiful." She mumbled, earning a small smile from her girlfriend.
"Kor," She looks up, bright emerald eyes flashing.
"Yeah?" The younger woman answered, taking her chin in her palm.
"Thank you again for giving me this pendant," Asami lifts it up as it shines in the reflecting light from above, "This is the nicest thing anybody has ever done for me."
"While I was gone all those years, I found it and was going to give it to you," Korra pauses, then adds, "I did think a lot about you when I tried to find myself. I did feel the same. I was just afraid I'd hurt you when I wasn't ready. Now I am. And it's the right time."
"I'd wait an eternity for you."
Asami cupped Korra's cheek and pressed her lips into hers, giving it gentle strokes with her thumb. She meant it. Korra meant everything to her and vice versa. The pair was so in love with each other that they could easily get married and spend the rest of their lives together.
Their foreheads pressed against each other's, lips inches apart once more and her jaded green eyes getting lost inside of Korra's deep blue abyss. Korra takes the lead this time, pressing her soft lips against Asami's but is cut off by a familiar voice.
"Careful, Avatar," A rough, throaty voice chuckled, "Her lips have been everywhere."
Korra jerks her head in that direction, gritting her teeth. She knew exactly who it was. Chills ran down Asami's spine as she heard his voice. She clings onto Korra out of desperation and fear. His presence made her stomach rearrange from the inside out. She could still smell him on her, forcing a gag back.
Tokuga.
"No." She whispered.
Next thing she knew, Korra vanished and everything around her turned dark and gray. Her body jerked backward as both her hands and feet were chained up to the wall. She wore that same stupid pink dress she hated, torn and exposing parts of her bare body beneath.
"You're finally awake, huh? Don't you get it? You'll never escape." His cruel laughter stabbing into her ears and she swore she felt blood dripping from them.
He lunged his large red tentacle—what used to be his arm—and locked it around her waist, jerking her body forward. Tokuga was face to face with her now as she shivered in fear.
"All of it wasn't real. You're stuck with me forever, doll. You're going be the queen of the Triple Threats and you're going to do everything Mr. Keum and I request if you want to live." He squeezed her waist harder that time to prove he meant business and she cries out in excruciating pain.
"Kor-Korra..." She says, pained.
"She'll never find you." He stated in his same venomous tone, lips closer to her ear this time, "She'll eventually go back to Mako. You're nothing but a good lay to her."
"No." Tears rolled down her cheeks uncontrollably.
"Yeah. But I'll take care of you. You don't have to worry about a thing, beautiful."
...
Asami jumps out of her sleep, panicked with loud gasps. A sharp pain jabbed into her rib cage and she immediately sends her hand there for assistance. It takes her a minute to process where she was. She turns to the left to see the beautiful window pattern in the shape of a white lotus flower. Eyes examining the entire bedroom with a large dresser and walk in closet. She noticed the light on in the bathroom and a smaller figure standing in the doorway, alarmed.
Her vision slowly made its way back to normal as she finally could make out who it had been. Her girlfriend. It makes her let out a relieved sigh as Korra made her way over to her to make sure she was okay. Still heavily breathing, but more calm now.
"The turtle duck date." She breathed out.
"We just got here a few hours ago," Korra replied, "You were fell asleep so I carried you here." She gently rubbed her back.
"You're sweet." Asami half smiles, before pulling her down next to her to lay on the bed, "It's what I needed."
"Tomorrow's a big day. You should sleep."
Tomorrow Asami met with the courthouse and she was bound to be a nervous wreck. Florina was going to be there with the lawyers. She trusted her with everything and she told her not to worry. That everything would be fine.
She just hopes she's right.
